Campanula rapunculoides

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Campanula rapunculoides
Creeping Bellflower, Ottawa.jpg
Campanula rapunculoides, Ottawa, Ontario
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Campanula
Species:
C. rapunculoides
Binomial name
Campanula rapunculoides
Synonyms [1]

Campanula rapunculoides, known by the common names creeping bellflower, rampion bellflower, rover bellflower, garden bluebell, creeping bluebell, purple bell, garden harebell, and creeping campanula, [2] is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Campanula , belonging to the family Campanulaceae. Native to central and southern Europe and west Asia, [3] in some parts of North America it is an extremely invasive species. [4]

Contents

Etymology

The genus Latin name ("campanula"), meaning 'small bell', refers to the bell-shape of the flower, while the specific name ("rapunculoides") refers to the similarity to Campanula rapunculus .

Description

Close-up on flowers of Campanula rapunculoides Campanulaceae - Campanula rapunculoides-4.JPG
Close-up on flowers of Campanula rapunculoides

Campanula rapunculoides reaches on average 30–80 centimetres (12–31 in) of height, with a maximum of 120 centimetres (47 in). The stem is simple, erect and lightly pubescent and the leaves are usually shortly hairy. The basal leaves are triangular, narrow, with a heart-shaped or rounded base, jagged edges and are up to 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long. The upper stem leaves are sessile, lanceolate, and shortly stalked.

The inflorescence consists of nodding spikelike racemes with numerous drooping flowers. The flowers are bright blue-violet (rarely white), 2 to 4 centimetres (0.79 to 1.57 in) long, with short petioles standing to one side in the axils of the bracts. The bracts are quite different and smaller than the leaves. The sepals are lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, entire, wide at the base up to 2.5 millimetres (0.098 in). The corolla is bell-shaped, with five deep lobes slightly ciliate. The flowering period extends from June through September. The flowers are pollinated by insects (bees, flies, butterflies, etc.) (entomophily). The fruit is a capsule with five pores near the base, where the seeds are spread.

The plant seeds abundantly (each plant can produce 15,000 seeds), [5] and while some roots come out when it is pulled, the horizontal stolons grow vertical storage tubers, which may not be anywhere near the surface portions of the plant. These storage tubers can regrow stolons, which in turn send up shoots at some distance from the storage tubers. [6]

This plant has its overwintering buds situated just below the soil surface (hemicryptophyte). It spreads by underground rhizomes and produces deep, taproot-shaped tubers. Both are white and fleshy. Because any piece of the roots can sprout into a new plant, it is extremely hard to eradicate.

Distribution

This plant is native to Europe and western Siberia, [6] where it grows in semi-shaded areas like open woods, the edges of denser forests, and meadowland. [3] It has been introduced to North America, where it has become an extremely invasive weed; [7] it chokes out other plants, and eliminating it is nearly impossible due to its multiple propagation mechanisms. [6]

Like many related Campanula species and more distant relatives, [8] it is edible and was historically grown for food. The roots, shoots, and leaves are all edible. [7] The roots can be eaten raw or cooked, and the upper parts are mild-flavoured; [9] indeed rather bland, [8] commonplace, and somewhat chewy-leaved; the basal leaves are often cooked as a pot herb, where they blend in with other leaves unnoticeably. [10]

Habitat

It grows on grassy places, dry hills, meadows, in deciduous and pine forests, woods, fields and roadsides, along railway lines and hedgerows, preferably in partial shade, in dry to moist sites and on clay soils, relatively rich in nitrogen, at an altitude of 0–2,000 metres (0–6,562 ft) above sea level. It also occurs in cultivated fields as a weed.

Invasive species

Campanula rapunculoides is native to parts of Eurasia, but is a widespread European import to North America, and it is invasive. [11]

It is extremely difficult to remove. [6] Mechanical removal, burning, and chemicals have varying success rates, but there is no sure method of removing the plants first try. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuber</span> Storage organ in plants

Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation, to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing season, and as a means of asexual reproduction. Stem tubers form thickened rhizomes or stolons ; well known species with stem tubers include the potato and yam. Some writers also treat modified lateral roots under the definition; these are found in sweet potatoes, cassava, and dahlias.

<i>Pilosella aurantiaca</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Pilosella aurantiaca is a perennial flowering plant in the family Asteraceae that is native to alpine regions of central and southern Europe, where it is protected in several regions.

<i>Campanula</i> Genus of flowering plants in the bellflower family Campanulaceae

Campanula is the type genus of the Campanulaceae family of flowering plants. Campanula are commonly known as bellflowers and take both their common and scientific names from the bell-shaped flowers — campanula is Latin for "little bell".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campanulaceae</span> Family of flowering plants comprising bellflowers

The family Campanulaceae, of the order Asterales, contains nearly 2400 species in 84 genera of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and rarely small trees, often with milky sap. Among them are several familiar garden plants belonging to the genera Campanula (bellflower), Lobelia, and Platycodon (balloonflower). Campanula rapunculus and Codonopsis lanceolata are eaten as vegetables. Lobelia inflata, L. siphilitica and L. tupa and others have been used as medicinal plants. Campanula rapunculoides may be a troublesome weed, particularly in gardens, while Legousia spp. may occur in arable fields.

<i>Campanula rotundifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Campanula rotundifolia, the harebell, Scottish bluebell, or bluebell of Scotland, is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae. This herbaceous perennial is found throughout the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. In Scotland, it is often known simply as bluebell. It is the floral emblem of Sweden where it is known as small bluebell. It produces its violet-blue, bell-shaped flowers in late summer and autumn.

<i>Cornus canadensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Cornus canadensis is a species of flowering plant in the dogwood family Cornaceae, native to eastern Asia and North America. Common names include Canadian dwarf cornel, Canadian bunchberry, quatre-temps, crackerberry, and creeping dogwood. Unlike its relatives, which are for the most part substantial trees and shrubs, C. canadensis is a creeping, rhizomatous perennial growing to about 20 centimetres tall.

<i>Campanula glomerata</i> Species of plant

Campanula glomerata, known by the common names clustered bellflower or Dane's blood, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Campanula, belonging to the family Campanulaceae. It is the county flower of Rutland, England.

<i>Hemerocallis fulva</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae

Hemerocallis fulva, the orange day-lily, tawny daylily, corn lily, tiger daylily, fulvous daylily, ditch lily or Fourth of July lily, is a species of daylily native to Asia. It is very widely grown as an ornamental plant in temperate climates for its showy flowers and ease of cultivation. It is not a true lily in the genus Lilium, but gets its common name from the superficial similarity of its flowers to Lilium and from the fact that each flower lasts only one day.

<i>Campanula cervicaria</i> Species of flowering plant

Campanula cervicaria, the bristly bellflower, is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae. The plant is roughly hairy and the flowers are about 1–2 centimetres (0.4–0.8 in) long, light blue and are grouped together.

<i>Campanula latifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Campanula latifolia, the giant bellflower, is a species of bellflower in the family Campanulaceae. It is also known as the large campanula and the wide-leaved bellflower. It is native to Europe and western Asia and is widely grown as an ornamental plant.

<i>Ipomoea indica</i> Species of flowering plant

Ipomoea indica is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae, known by several common names, including blue morning glory, oceanblue morning glory, koali awa, and blue dawn flower. It bears heart-shaped or three-lobed leaves and purple or blue funnel-shaped flowers 6–8 cm (2–3 in) in diameter, from spring to autumn. The flowers produced by the plant are hermaphroditic. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

<i>Campanula trachelium</i> Species of flowering plant

Campanula trachelium, the nettle-leaved bellflower, is a species of bellflower. It is a Eurasian blue wildflower native to Denmark and England and now naturalized in southeast Ireland. It is also found southward through much of Europe into Africa.

<i>Campanula rapunculus</i> Species of flowering plant

Campanula rapunculus, common name rampion bellflower, rampion, rover bellflower, or rapunzel, is a species of bellflower (Campanula) in the family Campanulaceae.

<i>Campanula poscharskyana</i> Species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae

Campanula poscharskyana, the Serbian bellflower or trailing bellflower, is a semi-evergreen trailing perennial, valued for its lavender-blue star-shaped flowers. It is native to the Dinaric Alps in former Yugoslavia.

<i>Triodanis perfoliata</i> Species of flowering plant

Triodanis perfoliata, the clasping Venus' looking-glass or clasping bellflower, is an annual flowering plant belonging to the family Campanulaceae. It is an annual herb native to North and South America, the natural range extending from Canada to Argentina. It is also naturalized in China, Korea and Australia.

<i>Favratia</i> Genus of Campanulaceae plants

Favratia zoysii, known commonly as Zois' bellflower, Zoysi's harebell, or crimped bellflower, is the sole member of the genus Favratia, closely related to Campanula (bellflowers).

<i>Campanula punctata</i> Species of flowering plant

Campanula punctata, the spotted bellflower, is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae. This ornamental herbaceous perennial is native to Japan, Korea, China and Siberia, and is widely cultivated for its attractive bell-shaped flowers.

<i>Mertensia paniculata</i> Species of shrub

Mertensia paniculata, also known as the tall lungwort, tall bluebells, or northern bluebells, is an herb or dwarf shrub with drooping, bright-blue, bell-shaped flowers. It is native to northwestern North America and the Great Lakes.

<i>Campanula spicata</i> Species of flowering plant

Campanula spicata, common name the spiked bellflower, is a herbaceous biennial or perennial plant of the genus Campanula belonging to the family Campanulaceae.

<i>Campanula petiolata</i> Species of flowering plant

Campanula petiolata, is a wild flower that is called western harebell when it is distinguished from Campanula rotundifolia or simply harebell when it is considered the same species. It is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae. This herbaceous perennial is found through much of the temperate areas of North America. It produces its violet-blue, bell-shaped flowers in late summer and autumn. It is closely related to Campanula rotundifolia and is considered either a subspecies or the same species by many botanists.

References

  1. 1 2 Campanula rapunculoides was first described and published in Species Plantarum 165 1753. "TPL, treatment of Campanula rapunculoides L." The Plant List; Version 1. (published on the internet). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden. 2010. Archived from the original on February 9, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Garden centres free of invasive plants", City of Calgary Parks Department, Calgary, Alberta, nd, archived from the original on 2012-06-02, retrieved 5 August 2015
  3. 1 2 Handbook of the British flora: a description of ..., Volume 2; Volume 1865 By George Bentham
  4. ↑ Dyer, Mary H. "Creeping Bellflower - How To Get Rid Of Creeping Bellflower". gardeningknownhow.com. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "Campanula rapunculoides (Creeping Bellflower)", Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Minnesota Wild flowers, Minnesota, nd, retrieved 5 August 2015
  6. 1 2 3 4 Stannard, Katie (28 May 2020). "Invasive of the Week: Creeping bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides)". Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, University of Michigan.
  7. 1 2 "Creeping Bellflower" (PDF). Wisconsin Master Gardener. University of Wisconsin-Madison. 6 July 2009.
  8. 1 2 "Campanula: Edible Bellflowers – GoodFood World".
  9. ↑ "Campanula rapunculoides (creeping bellflower): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Native Plant Trust.
  10. ↑ "Creeping Bellflower". FORAGER CHEF. 8 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "Campanula rapunculoides (Creeping Bellflower)", Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Minnesota Wild flowers, Minnesota, nd, retrieved 5 August 2015
  12. ↑ Panke, Brendon; deRegnier, Ryan; Renz, Mark. "Management of invasive plants in Wisconsin: Creeping bellflower (A3924-05)" (PDF). University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension.
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