Cosmos bipinnatus

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Cosmos bipinnatus
Cosmos bipinnatus pink, Burdwan, West Bengal, India 10 01 2013.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Cosmos
Species:
C. bipinnatus
Binomial name
Cosmos bipinnatus
Cav., 1791
Synonyms [1]
Synonymy
  • Bidens bipinnataBaill. 1882 not L. 1753
  • Bidens formosa(Bonato) Sch.Bip.
  • Bidens lindleyiSch.Bip.
  • Coreopsis formosaBonato
  • Coreopsis formosaBonato ex Pritz.
  • Cosmea tenifolia(Lindl.) Lindl. ex Heynhold
  • Cosmos formosaBonato
  • Cosmos hybridusGoldring
  • Cosmos spectabilisCarrière
  • Cosmos tenuifoliaLindl.
  • Cosmos tenuifoliusLindl.
  • Georgia bipinnata(Cav.) Spreng.

Cosmos bipinnatus, commonly called the garden cosmos, Mexican aster [2] or cosmea, [3] is a medium-sized flowering herbaceous plant in the daisy family Asteraceae, native to the Americas. The species and its varieties and cultivars are popular as ornamental plants in temperate climate gardens. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Contents

Description

Cosmea 2 - 24.08.2007.jpg

Cosmos bipinnatus is an annual that is often considered half-hardy, although plants may reappear via self-sowing for several years. The plant height varies from 2–6 ft to (rarely) 9 ft (0.61–1.83–2.74 m). The cultivated varieties appear in shades of pink and purple as well as white. The branched stem is usually densely to occasionally occupied by fine, split up, rough trichomes, but some specimens are completely hairless. The petiole itself is inconspicuous, winged, 10 (rarely to 15) mm long, and sometimes the leaves are almost sessile.

The partial leaves are linear-filiform to narrow linear with a width of 0.5 to 1 (rarely to 1.7) mm; the tips are pointed, hardened, but not particularly sharp. Its foliage appears as if finely cut into threadlike segments. When flowering, the plants can become top heavy. This problem is alleviated when they are grown in groups, as the bipinnate leaves interlock and the plants support each other. [8]

The achenes become blackish, are smooth or short-bristly. Their shape is spindle-like. They are rounded off into a short, 0.5 to 1.7 mm long, but distinctly pronounced rostrum. The inner achenes are up to 18 mm long, their yellowish beaks are 4 to 5 (rarely to 10) mm long. A pappus is missing or it consists only of two to three awn-like, 1-3 mm large bristles. [9]

Flowers

Sivas, Turkey Cosmos bipinnatus flowers in Sivas, Turkey.jpg
Sivas, Turkey

The very conspicuous cup-shaped inflorescences have a diameter of usually 5–7 cm (2.0–2.8 in) and contain tongue and tubular flowers, which are surrounded by bracts. There are usually 8 outer bracts, and they are ovate to lanceolate-tail-shaped, 7-15 mm long, 3-5 mm wide. The inner bracts are ovate-lanceolate and 8-12 mm long. They are translucent with many black stripes and a clear edge up to 1 mm wide, sometimes with yellowish or pink pigments, the tip is ciliate. The sprout leaves have gold-yellow, thread-like tips and protrude between the tubular flowers. The broadened base of these spreader leaves is translucent, with a yellow line.

The mostly eight ray florets are pink to violet or white colored, at the base may show noticeable stains caused by anthocyanin. The tongues are reversely ovate shaped, have a length of usually 20-35 mm and a width of usually 12-20 mm. The tips are almost dull and have three broad, wavy teeth. Below that, they are greatly rejuvenated. In the center of the flower baskets is a large number of tubular flowers (also called disc florets), whose overgrown petals are yellow, turn white in the lower part and reach a length of 5-6 mm. The anthers are brownish-black and about 3 mm long, at the tips are short-triangular, translucent attachments with a length of 0.5-0.8 mm. The branches of the stylus are short and rather dull, with a length of .5 mm. [10]

Distribution

This plant is native to Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica. Since it is used as an ornamental plant in many countries and prone to sedimentation[ clarification needed ], it is an invasive plant in many areas of the world. It has naturalized in scattered locations across North America, South America, the West Indies, Italy, Australia, and Asia, where it is a garden escape (introduced species) and in some habitats becoming a weed. [8]

Cultivars

Cultivars of Cosmos bipinnatus in cultivation today are listed here. Those marked agm have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Cultivation

Growth characteristics of this plant include:

Excessive rain can cause cultivation problems, due to the delicate nature of the stems. Heavy rain can cause breakage. Cosmos bipinnatus can tolerate heat as long as adequate moisture is provided, however, it does not handle droughts, strong winds or cold temperatures well. Snails, slugs and aphids have a taste for Cosmos bipinnatus. Successfully cultivated plants can mature 2 to 4 feet (0.61 to 1.22 m) x 12 to 18 inches (300 to 460 mm). [26]

Pollinators

The flowers of Cosmos bipinnatus attract birds and butterflies, [26] including the monarch butterfly. It can be part of butterfly gardening and pollinator/honey-bee habitat gardens. [26]

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References

  1. The Plant List, Cosmos bipinnatus Cav.
  2. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. "Cosmos bipinnatus." Plants: The Royal Horticultural Society, 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  4. Flora of North America, Cosmos bipinnatus Cavanilles
  5. Flora of China, 秋英 qiu ying, Cosmos bipinnatus Cavanilles
  6. "Atlas of Living Australia". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-06-11.
  7. Altervista Flora Italiana, Astro messicano, fiederblättriges Schmuckkörbchen, rosenskära, Cosmos bipinnatus Cav.
  8. 1 2 Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  9. Erich Oberdorfer : Plant sociology excursion flora for Germany and adjacent areas. In collaboration with Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and supplemented edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN   3-8001-3131-5, p 929
  10. Thomas E. Melchert Cosmos bipinnatus. In: Dorothy L. Nash, Louis O. Williams (ed.): Flora of Guatemala. In: Fieldiana: Botany. Volume 24, Part XII, 1976, pp. 230-231.
  11. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" 'Apollo Carmine'". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  12. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" 'Apollo Pink'". RHS. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  13. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" 'Apollo White'". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  14. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" 'Daydream'". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  15. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" Double Click Series". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  16. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" 'Double Click Cranberries'". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  17. "Double Click Rose Bonbon". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  18. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" 'Double Click Snow Puff'". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  19. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" 'Double Click Vari Extra'". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  20. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" 'Rubenza'". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  21. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" 'Sensation Pinkie'". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  22. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" Sonata Series". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  23. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" 'Velouette'". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  24. ""Cosmos bipinnatus" 'Versailles Dark Rose'". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  25. "Cosmos bipinnatus 'Versailles Tetra' (Versailles Series) | cosmea 'Versailles Tetra'/RHS Gardening". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  26. 1 2 3 Bruce Asakawa; Sharon Asakawa (3 September 2001). California Gardener's Guide . Cool Springs Press. pp.  26–27. ISBN   978-1-930604-47-6 . Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  27. Negus, John (1986). The Flower Garden. London: Octopus Books Ltd. pp. 31, 33. Retrieved 14 October 2023.