Green alkanet | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Boraginales |
Family: | Boraginaceae |
Genus: | Pentaglottis Tausch |
Species: | P. sempervirens |
Binomial name | |
Pentaglottis sempervirens (L.) Tausch ex L.H.Bailey | |
Synonyms [1] | |
List
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Pentaglottis is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. It is represented by a single species, Pentaglottis sempervirens, commonly known as green alkanet [2] or evergreen bugloss, [3] and it is one of several related plants known as alkanet. It is a bristly, perennial plant native to southwestern Europe, in northwest Iberia and France.
Pentaglottis sempervirens is a perennial, that has a deep tap root. It grows up to approximately 60–90 cm (23.6–35.4 in) tall with a roughly hairy stem. It has broadly ovate, [4] or pointed oval leaves and the lower leaves have leaf stalks. It can retain its green leaves through the winter. Green alkanet blooms in spring and early summer, between April and June, [4] or July. It has pink flower buds, [4] that open up to brilliant blue or bright blue flowers with a white centre, approximately 10 mm (0.4 in) wide. There are 5 sepals. It has clusters of flowers, but only one flowering at a time. Its stamens are hidden inside narrow flower-tubes which end in a white eye in the centre of a blue flower. [5]
The flowers are pollinated by bees and bumblebees, and the seed capsules can also be transported over some distances on passing animal fur or attached to clothing. [4]
It is commonly known as evergreen-bugloss and green alkanet. [6]
The genus Pentaglottis was first published by Bohemian botanist Ignaz Friedrich Tausch (1793-1848), in Flora 12: 643 in 1829, [7] then the species Pentaglottis sempervirens was first published by American botanist Liberty Hyde Bailey (1858-1954) in Man. Cult. Pl., ed. 2: 837 in 1949. [1]
The genus name Pentaglottis is Greek, meaning "five tongues", and the species specific epithet of sempervirens is Latin, and means "always alive", or "evergreen". [8]
The word "alkanet" derives from Middle English, from Old Spanish alcaneta, diminutive of alcana, "henna", from Medieval Latin alchanna, from Arabic al-ḥinnā’, "henna" : al-: "the" + ḥinnā’, "henna". The common name of "alkanet" is also used for dyer's bugloss ( Alkanna tinctoria ) and common bugloss ( Anchusa officinalis ).
The genus Pentaglottis has 2 known synonyms, CarylophaFisch. & Trautv. and CaryolophaFisch. & Trautv. [7]
The genus and species are accepted by GRIN (United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service). [9]
The native range of this genus is south western Europe. It is endemic to France, Portugal and Spain. It was introduced into the countries (and regions) of Australia (with the state of Tasmania) Belgium, Canada (within the province of British Columbia), Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy and the United States (within the states of California, Maine, Oregon and Washington). [7]
Green alkanet is an introduced species in the British Isles. [10]
It is found in woods and in hedge-banks, [5] or in damp or shaded places and often close to some buildings. It likes alkaline soils and is considered a weed in some parts of the UK. [4]
The blue flowers of the green alkanet are edible, and are often used as a garnish for salads or drinks.
Historically, the roots were a source of red dye. [11] Alkanet roots are also edible when cooked. [12]
Although toxic if consumed in large quantities, the leaves have medicinal properties and were recommended for the treatment of coughs, digestive problems and fevers by Nicholas Culpeper. [13] The leaves are also an effective remedy for burns and ulcers when crushed and combined with vinegar and rose water. [14] In modern times the leaves and stems have been used by doctors to treat staphylococcus. [15]
Honeysuckles are arching shrubs or twining vines in the genus Lonicera of the family Caprifoliaceae. It includes 158 species native to northern latitudes in North America, Eurasia, and North Africa. Widely known species include Lonicera periclymenum, Lonicera japonica and Lonicera sempervirens. L. japonica is a highly invasive species considered a significant pest in parts of North America, Europe, South America, Australia, and Africa.
Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-notfamily, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees, and herbs in 146 to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution.
The dewberries are a group of species in the genus Rubus, section Rubus, closely related to the blackberries. They are small trailing brambles with aggregate fruits, reminiscent of the raspberry, but are usually purple to black instead of red.
A daylily, day lily or ditch-lily is a flowering plant in the genus Hemerocallis, a member of the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, native to Asia. Despite the common name, it is not, in fact, a lily, nor does it specifically grow in ditches. Gardening enthusiasts and horticulturists have long bred Hemerocallis species for their attractive flowers; a select few species of the genus have edible petals, while some are extremely toxic. Thousands of cultivars have been registered by the American Daylily Society, the only internationally recognized registrant according to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP).. The plants are perennial, bulbous plants, whose common name alludes to its flowers, which typically last about a day.
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".
Epimedium, also known as barrenwort, bishop's hat, fairy wings, horny goat weed, or yin yang huo, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Berberidaceae. The majority of the species are endemic to China, with smaller numbers elsewhere in Asia, and a few in the Mediterranean region.
Berberis, commonly known as barberry, is a large genus of deciduous and evergreen shrubs from 1–5 m (3.3–16.4 ft) tall, found throughout temperate and subtropical regions of the world. Species diversity is greatest in South America and Asia; Europe, Africa and North America have native species as well. The best-known Berberis species is the European barberry, Berberis vulgaris, which is common in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, and has been widely introduced in North America. Many of the species have spines on the shoots and all along the margins of the leaves.
Prunus cerasifera is a species of plum known by the common names cherry plum and myrobalan plum. It is native to Southeast Europe and Western Asia, and is naturalised in the British Isles and scattered locations in North America. Also naturalized in parts of SE Australia where it is considered to be a mildly invasive weed of bushland near urban centers. P. cerasifera is believed to one of the parents of the Cultivated Plum, Prunus domestica perhaps crossing with the sloe, Prunus spinosa, or perhaps the sole parent. This would make it a parent of most of the commercial varieties of plum in the UK and mainland Europe - Victoria, greengages, bullace etc.
The genus Anchusa belongs to the borage family (Boraginaceae). It includes about 35 species found growing in Europe, North Africa, South Africa and Western Asia. They are introduced in the United States.
Heuchera is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae. All species are native to North America except for Heuchera sichotensis, native to the Russian Far East. Common names include alumroot and coral bells.
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.
Iberis sempervirens, the evergreen candytuft or perennial candytuft, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, native to southern Europe. The species is often used as an ornamental garden shrub because of its decorative flowers. Iberis is so named because many members of the genus come from the Iberian Peninsula in south west Europe. Sempervirens means "always green", referring to the evergreen foliage.
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.
Buxus sempervirens, the common box, European box, or boxwood, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Buxus, native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia, from southern England south to northern Morocco, and east through the northern Mediterranean region to Turkey. Buxus colchica of western Caucasus and B. hyrcana of northern Iran and eastern Caucasus are commonly treated as synonyms of B. sempervirens.
Anchusa arvensis is a plant species of the genus Anchusa. Its common names include small bugloss, annual bugloss, field bugloss and alkanet.
Anchusa officinalis, also knowns as common bugloss or common alkanet, is a species of flowering plant in the borage family. It is native to Europe and small parts of western Asia, but has been escaped from cultivation to grow in additional locations in Europe and the Americas. The flowers are noted for their popularity with bumblebees due to a large nectar flow. The plants have been used in traditional medicines, but were falling out of favor by the early 1800s. They are still planted in gardens for their popularity with bees and their blue flowers.
Acer sempervirens, the Cretan maple, is a species of maple native to southern Greece and southern Turkey.
Alkanet is the common name of several related plants in the borage family (Boraginaceae):
Myrtus communis, the common myrtle or true myrtle, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It is an evergreen shrub native to southern Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, Macaronesia, and the Indian Subcontinent, and also cultivated.
Anchusa strigosa is a non-succulent species of herbaceous plants in the Boraginaceae family endemic to the Eastern Mediterranean regions, particularly, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and Iran. It is known widely by its common names of strigose bugloss and prickly alkanet.