Erinus alpinus

Last updated

Erinus alpinus
Erinus alpinus plant in flower.jpg
Erinus alpinus flowering in a crack in the cement
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Erinus
Species:
E. alpinus
Binomial name
Erinus alpinus
L.

Erinus alpinus, the fairy foxglove, [1] alpine balsam, [2] starflower, or liver balsam, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae (previously in the family Scrophulariaceae), native to Central and Southern Europe and also to Morocco and Algeria.

Contents

Description

Erinus alpinus is a semi-evergreen, perennial chasmophyte with 10 cm (4 in) stems of narrow blue-green leaves and clusters of rose-pink flowers at the tips in spring and summer.

Habitat

It prefers rocky slopes and lime. It is native to Central and Southern Europe, [3] [4] and also to Morocco and Algeria. [5]

It is popularly grown in rockeries or alpine gardens; and occasionally becomes naturalised outside its native range, especially on old stone walls, shown from a well-known location for this species on the old Carrbridge Packhorse Bridge in the Highlands of Scotland [6]

It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [7] [8]

In folk belief of Northumberland

Botanist and noted authority on plant-lore Albert Roy Vickery quotes an informant from the town of Hexham thus:

Fairy foxglove is a small, purple flower which grows intermittently on stone walls in north-east England. Local tradition says that it only grows where Roman soldiers have trod. And certainly it is to be found in the village of Wall (which is, of course, located near Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland). [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Dryas octopetala</i> Species of flowering plant

Dryas octopetala, the mountain avens, eightpetal mountain-avens, white dryas or white dryad, is an Arctic–alpine flowering plant in the family Rosaceae. It is a small prostrate evergreen subshrub forming large colonies. The specific epithet octopetala derives from Greek octo 'eight' and petalon 'petal', referring to the eight petals of the flower, an unusual number in the Rosaceae, where five is the normal number. However, flowers with up to 16 petals also occur naturally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyacinth</span> Genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae

Hyacinthus is a small genus of bulbous, spring-blooming perennials. They are fragrant flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae and are commonly called hyacinths. The genus is native to the area of the eastern Mediterranean from the south of Turkey to Palestine, although naturalized more widely.

<i>Argyrocytisus</i> Genus of legumes

Argyrocytisus battandieri, the pineapple broom or Moroccan broom is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. It is the only member of the genus Argyrocytisus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lithophyte</span> Plants that grow on rocks

Lithophytes are plants that grow in or on rocks. They can be classified as either epilithic or endolithic; epilithic lithophytes grow on the surfaces of rocks, while endolithic lithophytes grow in the crevices of rocks. Lithophytes can also be classified as being either obligate or facultative. Obligate lithophytes grow solely on rocks, while facultative lithophytes will grow partially on a rock and on another substrate simultaneously.

<i>Digitalis purpurea</i> Toxic flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

Digitalis purpurea, the foxglove or common foxglove, is a poisonous species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae, native to and widespread throughout most of temperate Europe. It has also naturalised in parts of North America and some other temperate regions. The plant is a popular garden subject, with many cultivars available. It is the original source of the heart medicine digoxin. This biennial plant grows as a rosette of leaves in the first year after sowing, before flowering and then dying in the second year. It generally produces enough seeds, however, so that new plants will continue to grow in a garden setting.

<i>Jasminum nudiflorum</i> Species of shrub

Jasminum nudiflorum, the winter jasmine, is a slender, deciduous shrub native to China. The flower's blossoming peaks right after winter, which is why it is also named Yingchun (迎春) in Chinese, which means "the flower that welcomes Spring". It is widely cultivated as an ornamental and is reportedly naturalized in France and in scattered locations in the United States.

<i>Lobelia erinus</i> Species of flowering plant

Lobelia erinus is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae, native to southern Africa.

<i>Aster alpinus</i> Species of plant

Aster alpinus, the alpine aster or blue alpine daisy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the mountains of Europe, with a subspecies native to Canada and the United States. This herbaceous perennial has purple, pink, or blue flowers in summer.

<i>Allium cristophii</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae

Allium cristophii, the Persian onion or star of Persia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to Iran, Turkey, and Turkmenistan, though grown as an ornamental bulbous plant in many parts of the world. It may be sold under the synonym of Allium albopilosum.

<i>Forsythia suspensa</i> Species of flowering plant in the olive family Oleaceae

Forsythia suspensa, commonly known as weeping forsythia or golden-bell, is a species of flowering plant in the family Oleaceae, it is native to China.

<i>Sulla coronaria</i> Species of legume

Sulla coronaria is a perennial herb native to Malta, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, southern Italy and Spain, cultivated for animal fodder and hay, and for honey production.

<i>Teucrium fruticans</i> Species of flowering plant

Teucrium fruticans is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to the western and central Mediterranean. Growing to 1 m (3 ft) tall by 4 m (13 ft) wide, it is a spreading evergreen shrub with arching velvety white shoots, glossy aromatic leaves and pale blue flowers in summer.

<i>Linaria maroccana</i> Species of flowering plant

Linaria maroccana is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names Moroccan toadflax and annual toadflax. It is native to Morocco, but it can be found elsewhere growing wild as an introduced species, such as California. It is a readily available ornamental plant for the flower garden. This is an annual herb growing erect to approach a maximum height of 50 cm (20 in), its stem with linear leaves 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) long. The inflorescence is a raceme of flowers occupying the top of the stem. At the base of each flower is a calyx with five narrow, pointed lobes. The flower is 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) long with five lobes arranged into two lips with a spur at the end. The flower is often purple in color with white near the throat, but flowers of many different colors are bred for the garden. Dwarf cultivars are also available.

<i>Digitalis ferruginea</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

Digitalis ferruginea, the rusty foxglove, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae, native to Hungary, Romania, Turkey and the Caucasus. It is a biennial or short-lived perennial plant growing to 1.2 m, which forms a rosette of oblong dark green leaves and carries spikes of brown, tubular flowers in summer.

<i>Gentiana sino-ornata</i> Species of plant

Gentiana sino-ornata, the showy Chinese gentian, is a species of flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae, native to western China and Tibet. It is a low-growing semi-evergreen perennial growing to 5–7 cm (2–3 in) tall, with multiple prostrate stems 15–30 cm (6–12 in) long, bearing single trumpet-shaped flowers of a pure blue with a white- and green-striped throat, in autumn.

<i>Trachelium caeruleum</i> Species of flowering plant

Trachelium caeruleum, common name blue throatwort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae native to the Mediterranean, where its native range includes Algeria, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and Sicily. It has also become naturalized in a few areas, including New Zealand, the Azores, and parts of mainland Europe.

<i>Allium flavum</i> Species of flowering plant

Allium flavum, the small yellow onion or yellow-flowered garlic, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Allium. A bulbous herbaceous perennial, it is native to the lands surrounding the Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas, from France + Morocco to Iran + Kazakhstan.

<i>Tulipa sylvestris</i> Species of flowering plant

Tulipa sylvestris, the wild tulip or woodland tulip, is a Eurasian and North African species of wild tulip, a plant in the lily family. Its native range extends from Portugal and Morocco to western China, covering most of the Mediterranean and Black Sea Basins, and Central Asia. The species is also cultivated as an ornamental and naturalized in central and northern Europe as well as a few scattered locations in North America. It was first recorded as being naturalised in Britain in the late 17th century.

<i>Aureolaria levigata</i> Species of flowering plant

Aureolaria levigata, commonly known as entireleaf yellow false foxglove or Appalachian oak-leech, is a species of flowering plant in the family Orobanchaceae. It is native to much of the Appalachian Mountains and surrounding areas in the eastern United States. It is also found in a disjunct population in southwestern Mississippi.

<i>Morina longifolia</i> Species of plant in the family Caprifoliaceae

Morina longifolia, the Himalayan whorlflower or long-leaved whorlflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the foothills of the Himalayas. A perennial hardy to USDA zone 6a, it is recommended for borders and beds, in courtyard, cottage, gravel and rock gardens, but is subject to rot if there is too much shade. Its habitats include open slopes and alpine shrubberies.

References

  1. Annie's Annuals Retrieved October 8, 2015
  2. Plants: USDA.Gov October 8, 2015
  3. "Erinus alpinus". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved Apr 26, 2012.
  4. "Encyclopaedia of life entry for Erinus alpinus" . Retrieved Apr 26, 2012.
  5. Kew Plants of the World Online https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:802227-1 Retrieved at 10.35 on Monday 1/8/22.
  6. "Ukwildflowers link" . Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  7. "Erinus alpinus" . Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  8. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 36. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  9. Vickery, Roy, Oxford Dictionary of Plant Lore, pub. Oxford University Press 1995 ISBN 0-19-280053-1 entry 'Fairy Foxglove' page 129.