| Cyananthus lobatus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Campanulaceae |
| Genus: | Cyananthus |
| Species: | C. lobatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Cyananthus lobatus Wall. ex Benth. | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Cyananthus lobatus, commonly known as the lobed-leaved cyananth or trailing bellflower, is an ornamental flowering plant of the family Campanulaceae.
Cyananthus lobatus is a perennial plant which grows into a low mat up to 10 cm (3.9 in) tall and 10–50 cm (3.9–19.7 in) wide. It usually takes two to five years to reach its maximum size. [2]
Its roots are shaped like carrots, and can be up to 1.3 cm (0.51 in) wide. They have a sturdy caudex (rootstock) which is branched and has scales towards its end. These scales are ovate (egg-shaped) or lanceolate (lance-shaped) and are roughly 4 mm in size. [3]
Its many stems grow prostrate, or along the ground, and are each 10–25 cm (3.9–9.8 in) long. [2] [4] They are clustered in a dense turf, and on the ends they are villous, sparsely covered with both long and short soft hairs. [3]
The leaves are 1–2.5 cm (0.39–0.98 in) long, are dull green in color, and have either a deeply lobed or toothed shape. [2] [4] They are placed alternate, across the stem from one another, and are sessile (directly connected to the stem) or have very short leaf stalks which are less than 5 mm long. At the base, there is a wedge shape which tapers into this connection point. [3]
The leaf blades are obovate, a reverse ovate shape which is narrower towards the base and broadening towards the tip. They can also be several other shapes, including that of a reverse lanceolate shape, a broad tip and narrow base, or a rhombus-like shape. The texture of the leaf is slightly leathery; the bottom side is covered in shaggy hairs and the upper side has sparse stiff hairs or lacks hairs altogether. The edges of the blade are slightly rolled under towards the midrib of the leaf. [3]
The species' flowers are the most showy part of the plant. They can be up to 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) in diameter. The sepal tube is prominent and covered in black hairs. It is 1.5–2 cm (0.59–0.79 in) long, and a third of it is lobed. [2] [4] [5] The pedicels which connect the flowers to the stem are 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) long and have course, rough hairs. The calyx tube is cylindrical and has dense brown-red bristle-like hairs. [3]
Each flower has five petals, which can vary widely in color. They are usually a bright blue-purple, but can also be a paler shade or rarely completely white. The petals are also an obovate shape, similar to that of the species' leaves. Each petal is hairy in the throat, or center, of the flower. [2] [4] [5]
Cyananthus lobatus was described by Nathaniel Wallich in first volume of the journal Illustrations of the Botany of the Himalayan Mountains in 1836. [3] It has a chromosome number of 2n=28. [6]
In English, the species is commonly referred to as the lobed-leaved cyananth [2] or as trailing bellflower. [4] In Mandarin it is called 裂叶蓝钟花 (Liè yè lán zhōng huā). [3]
C. lobatus var. insignis is a variety of the species, which has larger flowers that can be up to 5 cm (2.0 in) wide. [5] While the variety was described as its own species under the name Cyananthus insignis by R.E. Grahame in 1940, according to the Vienna Code this description was invalid due to the lack of a Latin description and diagnosis, and thus is not accepted. [3]
Cyananthus lobatus is native to the Himalayas, and its range stretches from the Himachal Pradesh in India to Tibet and Yunnan in China. [5] It can be found at altitudes of 3,300–4,500 m (10,800–14,800 ft) [4] and its habitat is grassy slopes and forests. [3]
While Cyananthus lobatus is typically disease free, it can be affected by pests like aphids and glasshouse red spider mites when it is grown in a greenhouse. [2]
Cyananthus lobatus was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit, a designation which signifies that the species is a reliable plant and is suitable for cultivation. [2] [7]
The species is capable of being grown in poor soil, but performs better in rich humus. It requires moist soil with proper drainage, and prefers the ground to be neutral to slightly acidic in pH. It should be kept cool and at least partially shaded. It is typically grown in gravel or rock gardens or indoors in pots, and does not require any pruning. [2]
C. lobatus can be propagated by either seed or cuttings. When propagating by seed, it should be sown as soon as it is ripe; when propagating by cuttings, rooting softwood should be used in late spring or early summer. The species flowers in the late summer, but will display foliage from spring to fall. [2]
The 'Sheriff's Variety' cultivar of Cyananthus lobatus has larger flowers which are more pale and lavender in color. [5] The 'Giant Form' cultivar is larger in size, with a diameter of up to 60 cm (24 in), roughly 10 cm (3.9 in) larger than standard plants of the species. It is sold for use as a cascading plant in rock gardens. [8]
Campanula is one of several genera of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae commonly known as bellflowers. They take both their common and scientific names from the bell-shaped flowers — campanula is Latin for "little bell".
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.
Impatiens walleriana, also known as busy Lizzie, balsam, sultana, or simply impatiens, is a species of the genus Impatiens, native to eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique. The Latin specific epithet walleriana honours a British missionary, Horace Waller (1833–1896).
Lobularia maritima is a species of low-growing flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. Its common name is sweet alyssum or sweet alison, also commonly referred to as just alyssum.
Platycodon grandiflorus is a species of herbaceous flowering perennial plant of the family Campanulaceae, and the only member of the genus Platycodon. It is native to East Asia. It is commonly known as balloon flower, Chinese bellflower, or platycodon.
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.
Lobelia cardinalis, the cardinal flower, is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae native to the Americas, from southeastern Canada south through the eastern and southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America to northern Colombia.
Rudbeckia fulgida, the orange coneflower or perennial coneflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to eastern North America.
Vinca major, with the common names bigleaf periwinkle, large periwinkle, greater periwinkle and blue periwinkle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to the western Mediterranean. Growing to 25 cm (10 in) tall and spreading indefinitely, it is an evergreen perennial, frequently used in cultivation as groundcover.
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.
Coleus scutellarioides, commonly known as coleus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to southeast Asia through to Australia. Typically growing to 60–75 cm (24–30 in) tall and wide, it is a bushy, woody-based evergreen perennial, widely grown for the highly decorative variegated leaves found in cultivated varieties. Another common name is painted nettle, reflecting its relationship to deadnettles, which are in the same family. The synonyms Coleus blumei, Plectranthus scutellarioides and Solenostemon scutellarioides are also widely used for this species.
Aeonium haworthii, also known as Haworth's aeonium or pinwheel, is a species of succulent flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. It is grown as a houseplant in temperate regions. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, as has the cultivar 'Variegatum'.
Oxalis triangularis, commonly called false shamrock, is a species of perennial plant in the family Oxalidaceae. It is native to several countries in southern South America. This woodsorrel is typically grown as a houseplant but can be grown outside in USDA climate zones 8a–11, preferably in light shade.
Tropaeolum speciosum, the flame flower or flame nasturtium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Tropaeolaceae native to Chile, where it is known locally as coralito, quintralito, or voqui.
Crassula ovata, commonly known as jade plant, lucky plant, money plant or money tree, is a succulent plant with small pink or white flowers that is native to the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, and Mozambique; it is common as a houseplant worldwide. Much of its popularity stems from the low levels of care needed; the jade plant requires little water and can survive in most indoor conditions. It is sometimes referred to as the money tree; however, Pachira aquatica also has this nickname.
Iris goniocarpa is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus of Iris and in the section Pseudoregelia. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from China, India, Burma and Bhutan. It has yellow green to dark green, long leaves, slender stem and, one flower between blue, lavender-blue, lilac, blue-violet or blue-purple. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris sikkimensis is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris and in the section Pseudoregelia. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Sikkim. It has pale green or light green thin leaves, slender stem, 2 or 3 lilac or purple flowers, with a white beard with orange tips. It is thought to be a hybrid of Iris hookeriana and Iris kumaonensis.
Iris schachtii is a plant species in the genus Iris, it is also in the subgenus Iris. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from central Anatolia, in Turkey. It has small, thin grey-green leaves, a short stem with 1–3 branches, which are normally, covered with a green leaf with purple staining. It has 2 or more fragrant flowers in late spring, which come in shades of yellow or purple, or violet and yellow,. It has a yellow or white with yellow-tips beard. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, but prefers regions with dry, hot summers.
Campanula tommasiniana, known as the Croatian bellflower or Tommasini bell flower, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae. It is native to the alpine regions of Croatia. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit as an ornamental.
Cyananthus formusus is a species of perennial flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae. It is native to grassy slopes and forests of northwest Yunnan in China. In Mandarin the species is known as 美丽蓝钟花. Originally described by Ludwig Diels in 1912 in the Notes of the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh, the species is a small, blue-flowered plant suitable for Alpine gardens.
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