Campanula rapunculus

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Campanula rapunculus
Campanulaceae - Campanula rapunculus-5.JPG
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. rapunculus
Binomial name
Campanula rapunculus
L.

Campanula rapunculus, common name rampion bellflower, [1] rampion, rover bellflower, or rapunzel, is a species of bellflower (Campanula) in the family Campanulaceae. [2]

Contents

This species was once widely grown in Europe for its leaves, which were used like spinach, and its parsnip-like root, which was used like a radish. [3] The Brothers Grimm's tale Rapunzel took its name from this plant. [4]

Etymology

The genus Latin name ("campanula"), meaning small bell, refers to the bell-shape of the flower, while the specific name ("rapunculus") is a diminutive of the Latin "rapa" (turnip) and means 'little turnip', which refers to the shape of the root.

Description

Close-up on flower of Campanula rapunculus Campanulaceae - Campanula rapunculus-1.JPG
Close-up on flower of Campanula rapunculus

This biennial herbaceous plant reaches on average 40–80 centimetres (16–31 in) of height, with a maximum of 100 centimetres (39 in) . The stem is erect, lightly hairy, branched on the top. The basal leaves are petiolated, ovate, slightly toothed and arranged in a rosette, while the upper leaves are sessile and narrow lanceolate. The hermaphrodite flowers are clustered in a racemose inflorescence, with a bell-shaped, light blue or violet corolla, about two centimeters long. They are arranged along the stem in a fairly narrow one-sided facing cluster. The flowering period extends from May through September. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule in the form of inverted cone with many seeds. The thick root looks like a small turnip and it is edible. The chromosome number is 2n = 20. [5] There are wild bee species like from the genus Chelostoma that rely on Campanula rapunculus as a pollen source. [6]

Distribution

Campanula rapunculus is present in western Asia, northern Africa and in most of Europe, except Iceland, Ireland and Norway. It has been introduced in Denmark, southern Sweden and Great Britain. This species was once widely grown in Europe for its leaves, which were used like spinach, and its parsnip-like root, which was used like a radish. [3]

Habitat

Campanula rapunculus is winter-hardy. [7] It grows on poor soils. [8] This species prefers limestone soils and grows in dry meadows, cultivated beds, forests of oaks and pine trees, along roadsides and lane, at an altitude of 0–1,500 metres (0–4,921 ft) above sea level.

Cultivation

The rampion can be cultivated as a crop. It is sown at the beginning of June. A loose soil is favourable, fertilisation is not necessary. It grows best in well drained, rich sandy-loam soils which are neutral or alkaline with a pH of 4.8-7.5. [9] The seeds are very small (thousand grain weight 0.04g). For a more uniform seedling distribution, 20 times the amount of sand is mixed with the seeds before sowing. The row distance should be 20–25 cm. The seeds are not covered, but only lightly pressed onto the surface of the soil. After germination, the plants must be thinned. The roots can be harvested from October onwards throughout the winter. [7]

On a soil rich in carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen, a dry matter of up to 135g/m2 is possible, whereas on more sandy soils or sub-soils only 12-17g/m2 is achieved. [8]

Rampion is cultivated after highly demanding crops such as cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes or cucumbers. It can also be grown as a catch crop between lettuce. [7]

Synonyms

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parsnip</span> Root vegetable in the flowering plant family Apiaceae

The parsnip is a root vegetable closely related to carrot and parsley, all belonging to the flowering plant family Apiaceae. It is a biennial plant usually grown as an annual. Its long taproot has cream-colored skin and flesh, and, left in the ground to mature, becomes sweeter in flavor after winter frosts. In its first growing season, the plant has a rosette of pinnate, mid-green leaves. If unharvested, it produces a flowering stem topped by an umbel of small yellow flowers in its second growing season, later producing pale brown, flat, winged seeds. By this time, the stem has become woody, and the tap root inedible. Precautions should be taken when handling the stems and foliage, as parsnip sap can cause a skin rash or even blindness if exposed to sunlight after handling.

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

Campanula americana, the American bellflower, or tall bellflower, is a bellflower native to eastern North America. Tall bellflowers can be annual or biennial with a varying life-history with seeds germinating in the fall producing annual plants and spring-germinating seeds producing biennial plants. Long-tongued bees are the primary pollinators, including Megachile campanulae, but halictid bees, butterflies, and skippers may also act as pollinators. Tall Bellflowers do not generally self-pollinate. Some authorities, including the USDA PLANTS database, consider the name Campanulastrum americanum to be the accepted name for this species.

Rampion is a common name for several plants, including:

<i>Phyteuma</i> Genus of plants

Phyteuma is a genus of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae, native to Europe and Morocco.

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

Campanula medium, common name Canterbury bells, is an annual or biennial flowering plant of the genus Campanula, belonging to the family Campanulaceae. In floriography, it represents gratitude, or faith and constancy.

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

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

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

Campanula persicifolia, the peach-leaved bellflower, is a flowering plant species in the family Campanulaceae. It is an herbaceous perennial growing to 1 m. Its flowers are cup-shaped and can be either lilac-blue or white. Its foliage is narrow and glossy with a bright green appearance.

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

Campanula patula or spreading bellflower is a plant species of the genus Campanula. It can grow to more than half a meter high. This delicate bellflower bears lateral branches of pale blue or white flowers that are upright and funnel shaped. The leaves are narrow and pointed. Branches are often supported by the surrounding vegetation, so the plants can appear prostrate. The main difference between this and other bellflowers is that the petals in the bell are spread out and more pointed and this gives this species its common name.

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

Campanula portenschlagiana, the wall bellflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae, native to the Dalmatian Mountains in Croatia. It is a vigorous, low-growing, mound-forming evergreen perennial with deep purple flowers in summer. Other common names include Dalmatian bellflower, Adria bellflower and Campanula muralis.

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

Campanula piperi is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae. It is native to the Olympic Mountains on the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. It has also been noted on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

<i>Adenophora triphylla</i> Species of flowering plant

Adenophora triphylla, also known as Japanese lady bell, is one of the 62 species of Adenophora. It is a flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae that is distributed mainly over the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and China.

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

Campanula thyrsoides is a flowering plant belonging to the family Campanulaceae.

<i>Smithiastrum</i> Genus of plants

Smithiastrum is a genus of plants in the Campanulaceae or bellflower family found in the western United States. Its members are commonly known as harebells and were previously included in the family's type genus, Campanula, and were segregated when it was found that the Campanula was polyphyletic. As of 2023, Smithiastrum comprises two species.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. ↑ Anderberg, Arne; Anderberg, Anna-Lena. "Campanula rapunculus". Den virtuella floran (in Swedish). Swedish Museum of Natural History . Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  3. 1 2 Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). "Rampion"  . Encyclopedia Americana .
  4. ↑ Grimm, Jacob Ludwig Karl; Grimm, Wilhelm; Crick, Joyce (2005). "11. Rapunzel". Selected tales. Oxford world's classics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 51. ISBN   9780192804792. OCLC   799426092. ...when she noticed a bed planted with the most beautiful rampions, or rapunzels...
  5. ↑ Oberdorfer, Erich (2001). Pflanzensoziologische Exkursionsflora für Deutschland und angrenzende Gebiete (stark überarbeitete und ergänzte Auflage ed.). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Eugen Ulmer. p. 895. ISBN   3-8001-3131-5.
  6. ↑ Schlindwein, C.; Wittmann, D.; Martins, C. Feitosa; Hamm, A.; Siqueira, J. Alves; Schiffler, D.; Machado, I. C. (2005). "Pollination of Campanula rapunculus L. (Campanulaceae): How much pollen flows into pollination and into reproduction of oligolectic pollinators?". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 250 (3–4): 147–156. doi:10.1007/s00606-004-0246-8. ISSN   0378-2697. S2CID   2093199.
  7. 1 2 3 Becker-Dillingen, Josef (1929). Handbuch des gesamten Gemüsebaues einschliesslich des Gemüsesamenbaues, der Gewürz-, Arznei- und Küchenkräuter (in German) (2nd ed.). Hedemannstrasse 28, Deutschland: Verlagsbuchhandlung Paul Parey. pp. 708–709.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  8. 1 2 Bretzel, Francesca; Pezzarossa, Beatrice; Malorgio, Fernando (March 2009). "Study of herbaceous annual and perennial species native to Mediterranean area for landscape purposes". Acta Horticulturae (813): 321–328. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.813.41. ISSN   0567-7572. Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  9. ↑ "Useful Temperate Plants". Useful Temperate Plants Database. 13 November 2022. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2022.

Bibliography

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