Ladybells | |
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Adenophora sp. | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Campanulaceae |
Subfamily: | Campanuloideae |
Genus: | Adenophora Fisch. (1823) |
Synonyms [1] | |
FloerkeaSpreng. (1818), illegitimate homonym, not Willd. 1801 nor Raf. 1808 Contents |
Adenophora is a genus of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae, the bellflowers. Plants of this genus are known commonly as ladybells. [2] Most of the species in the genus are native to eastern Asia, with a few in Europe. Many are endemic to either China or Siberia. [1] [3]
These plants are perennial herbs, often with thick, fleshy roots. The stem usually grows erect from a caudex. There are usually several basal leaves borne on long petioles. The leaves on the stem are alternately arranged in most species. Flowers are solitary or borne in cymes. The corolla of the flower is bell-shaped, funnel-shaped, or tubular, with five lobes. [3] The corollas of most species are blue. [2] There is a characteristic nectar disc at the base of the stamens. [3]
There are 68 species currently accepted as Adenophora. [4] These are: [1] [3] [5]
Many Adenophora species have been used in traditional Chinese medicine. [8]