Smithiastrum prenanthoides

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Smithiastrum prenanthoides
Campanula prenanthoides 8S6A2014.jpg
S. prenanthoides flowering in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Smithiastrum
Species:
S. prenanthoides
Binomial name
Smithiastrum prenanthoides
Synonyms [1]
  • Asyneuma prenanthoides (Durand) McVaugh
  • Campanula prenanthoides Durand

Smithiastrum prenanthoides, commonly known as the California harebell, is a perennial flowering plant in the Campanulaceae. [1] [2] It was formerly classified as a member of either Campanula or Asyneuma and was re-split following the discovery that genera in the family are polyphyletic. S. prenanthoides belongs to one of several small genera in the Campanulaceae native to California and grows in montane coniferous forests. [3]

Contents

Description

Smithiastrum prenanthoides is a perennial herb with an erect branching stem 0.6–0.9 m high. The stem is slightly puberulent. The slender leaves range from 10 to 60 mm in length and usually have a toothed margin and a pointed apex. The leaves are attached to the stem by very short petioles, usually less than 5 mm long, and the upper leaves on the stem are usually sessile. They are wider toward the base with two small teeth on each side. [4] [5]

The nodding flowers are blue-purple and appear on a panicle in groups of 3–5. The pedicel is variable in length, between 6–20 mm. The sepals are spreading to reflexed and the calyx is fused into an obconic tube covering less than half the length of the corolla. The corolla, fused at the base, is divided into 5 slender petals that are distinctly recurved at their tips. The stamens are 6 mm long with ciliate base. The ovary is 2.5–5 mm in diameter and hemispheric. The style, 15–18 mm long, is noticeably exserted beyond the sepals and petals and may be slightly curved. It is likewise blue and the distal half is papillate. The stigma is clavate and has 3 short curved divisions. [4] [5] [2]

Smithiastrum prenanthoides blooms in June and July. The fruit is a hemispheric dehiscent capsule with prominent ribbing. The pores are distributed at or below the middle of the capsule. The oblong seeds are 2 mm long. [5]

Taxonomy

Smithiastrum prenanthoides was originally described as Campanula prenanthoides in 1855 by Elias Durand. Later, in 1945, it was transferred to the genus Asyneuma under the name A. prenanthoides by Rogers McVaugh. Finally, in 2020, it was transferred to a newly erected genus, Smithiastrum , by Nancy Morin. [1] [3]

Smithiastrum prenanthoides was split from Campanula and Asyneuma in order to resolve a previously polyphyletic grouping of genera in the Campanulaceae. It now belongs to one of several small, newly erected taxa in the Campanulaceae native to California; other novel genera include Eastwoodiella and Ravenella . The genus name Smithiastrum honors James Payne Smith Jr., a California botanist. The latter half of the generic epithet, astrum, denotes a star in Latin and refers to the shape of the flowers. [3] The specific epithet, prenanthoides, refers to the fact that the panicle just prior to flowering closely resembles the genus Prenanthes . [3] [4]

The diploid number of Smithiastrum prenanthoides is 2n = 16. [5]

Distribution and habitat

Smithiastrum prenanthoides is native to California and Oregon. It grows in the temperate coniferous forests of the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, Coastal Ranges, and part of the Sierra Nevadas. It is associated with redwood forest, yellow pine forest, red fir forest, and mixed evergreen forest. It is found at elevations of 50–2000 m. [5] [6]

Uses

In cultivation, Smithiastrum prenanthoides requires part shade and moist soil with good drainage. It may be a host for Hyles lineata , the white-lined sphinx moth. [7] Historically, the bulbs of Smithiastrum prenanthoides were consumed as a winter food by Ohlone peoples. [8]

Related Research Articles

<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>Phyteuma</i> Genus of plants

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

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

Campanula exigua, the chaparral bellflower, rock harebell, or Rattan campanula, is an annual flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae.

<i>Downingia bella</i> Species of flowering plant

Downingia bella, also known as Hoover's calicoflower or Hoover's Downingia, is a member of the Bellflower Family (Campanulaceae). The genus is named after A.J. Downing (1815–1852) a noted American horticulturist and landscape architect.

<i>Allotropa</i> Genus of flowering plants in the heath family Ericaceae

Allotropa virgata is in the family Ericaceae and is the only species of the genus Allotropa. It is a perennial plant that gets its common names from the distinct white and red or maroon stripes along its erect peduncle. A. virgata are nongreen as they lack chlorophyll, instead obtaining nutrition from neighboring green plants through a fungal intermediate.

<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>Calochortus dunnii</i> Species of plant

Calochortus dunnii is a rare species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name Dunn's mariposa lily.

<i>Chaenactis suffrutescens</i> Species of flowering plant

Chaenactis suffrutescens is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name Shasta chaenactis.

<i>Leptosiphon parviflorus</i> Species of flowering plant

Leptosiphon parviflorus is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name variable linanthus.

<i>Vancouveria planipetala</i> Species of flowering plant

Vancouveria planipetala is a species of flowering plant in the barberry family known by the common names redwood inside-out flower and redwood ivy.

<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>Wahlenbergia capillaris</i> Species of flowering plant

Wahlenbergia capillaris, commonly known as tufted bluebell, is a plant in the family Campanulaceae and is native to Australia and New Guinea. It is an erect perennial herb with a few to many stems and grows to a height of 50 cm (20 in). The leaves are mostly linear with a few scattered teeth on the sides and the flowers are blue, bell-shaped with five lobes and arranged in cymes. This bluebell is widespread and common, occurring in all Australian mainland states and territories.

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

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

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

Campanula petiolata, is a wild flower that is called western harebell when it is distinguished from Campanula rotundifolia or simply harebell when it is considered the same species. It is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae. This herbaceous perennial is found through much of the temperate areas of North America. It produces its violet-blue, bell-shaped flowers in late summer and autumn. It is closely related to Campanula rotundifolia and is considered either a subspecies or the same species by many botanists.

<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

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Smithiastrum prenanthoides". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 "ACKNOWLEDGMENTS", Wildflowers of California, University of California Press, pp. xi–xii, 2019-12-31, retrieved 2023-08-17
  3. 1 2 3 4 Morin, N.R. (2020). "Taxonomic changes in North American Campanuloideae (Campanulaceae)" (PDF). Phytoneuron. 2020 (49): 1–46.
  4. 1 2 3 Durand, Elias (1855). "Campanulaceae". Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 3 (2): 93–94 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Asyneuma prenanthoides". ucjeps.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  6. ↑ "Asyneuma prenanthoides Calflora". www.calflora.org. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  7. ↑ "California Harebell, Asyneuma prenanthoides". calscape.org. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  8. ↑ "BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database". naeb.brit.org. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
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