Valeriana rubra

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Valeriana rubra
GardenValerian.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Genus: Valeriana
Species:
V. rubra
Binomial name
Valeriana rubra
L. (1753)
Synonyms [1]
  • Centranthus latifoliusDufr. (1811)
  • Centranthus marinusGray (1821 publ. 1822)
  • Centranthus maritimusDC. (1830)
  • Centranthus ruberL. DC. (1805)
  • Centranthus ruber f. albiflorusMerino (1904), nom. nud.
  • Ocymastrum rubrumKuntze (1891)
  • Valeriana albaMazziari (1834)
  • Valeriana floridaSalisb. (1796), nom. superfl.
  • Valeriana hortensisGarsault (1764), opus utique rej.

Valeriana rubra (synonym Centranthus ruber), the red valerian, [2] spur valerian, [3] kiss-me-quick, [3] fox's brush, [3] devil's beard [4] or Jupiter's beard, [3] is a popular garden plant grown for its ornamental flowers.

Contents

Description

Closeup of inflorescence Centranthus ruber 1.jpg
Closeup of inflorescence

Valeriana rubra is a perennial plant, usually as a subshrub though it can take any form from a herbaceous plant to a shrub depending on conditions; the plants are usually woody at the base. The leaves are generally 5–8 cm in length. Their form changes from the bottom to the top of the plant, the lower leaves being petiolate while the upper leaves are sessile. The leaves grow in opposite pairs and are oval or lanceolate in shape. The plant flowers profusely, and though the individual flowers are small (no more than 2 mm), the inflorescences are large and showy. The flowers are small in rounded clusters each with 5 fused petals and a spur. The most typical color is a brick red or purplish red, but colors include deep crimson, pale pink, and lavender. Centranthus ruber 'Albus' (about 10% of individuals) has white blooms. Flowering takes place in early summer and, in cool summer areas, continues sporadically throughout the summer and into fall. The cultivar 'coccineus' is especially long-blooming. The blooms have a strong and somewhat rank scent. They are pollinated by both bees and butterflies and the plant is noted for attracting insects. It is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including angle shades. Seeds have tufts similar to dandelions that allow wind dispersal, and as such can self-seed freely and become invasive if not properly controlled.

Distribution

Growing atop old walls in Ireland Centranthus ruber growing on wall (Ireland).jpg
Growing atop old walls in Ireland

Valeriana rubra is native of the Mediterranean region, ranging from Portugal and Spain to France, Italy, former Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece and European Turkey, and from Morocco to Algeria and Tunisia. [1] It has been introduced into many other parts of the world as a garden escape. It is naturalised in France, Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Isle of Man and the United States. In the US it can be found growing wild in such western states as Arizona, Utah, California, Hawaii, Washington, and Oregon, usually in disturbed, rocky places at elevations below 200 m. It is often seen by roadsides or in urban wasteland. It can tolerate very alkaline soil conditions. Because of its ability to tolerate alkaline conditions, Valeriana rubra can tolerate lime in mortar, and may frequently be seen growing on old walls in Italy, southern France and south-west UK.

White form of Centranthus ruber forma albus 2007-06-02 (flower).jpg
White form of
Showing both petioled and sessile leaf forms. Centranthus ruber B.jpg
Showing both petioled and sessile leaf forms.
Three common colour forms of Valeriana rubra VALERIANS.jpg
Three common colour forms of Valeriana rubra

Invasive species

The species is listed as a NEMBA 1b invasive in the Western Cape, South Africa. It may not be owned, imported, grown, moved, sold, given as a gift or dumped in a waterway. [5] [4] [6] It requires compulsory control as part of an invasive species control programme to remove and destroy. The plants are deemed to have such a high invasive potential that infestations can qualify to be placed under a government sponsored invasive species management programme. No permits will be issued. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valerian (herb)</span> Species of flowering plant

Valerian is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. In the summer when the mature plant may have a height of 1.5 metres, it bears sweetly scented pink or white flowers that attract many fly species, especially hoverflies of the genus Eristalis. It is consumed as food by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the grey pug.

<i>Rosa rugosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Rosa rugosa is a species of rose native to eastern Asia, in northeastern China, Japan, Korea and southeastern Siberia, where it grows on beach coasts, often on sand dunes. It is naturalized in much of Europe and parts of the United States and Canada. It should not be confused with Rosa multiflora, which is also known as "Japanese rose". The Latin word "rugosa" means "wrinkled", referring to the wrinkled leaves. Often used as an ornamental plant, it has become invasive in parts of Europe, North America and South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valerianaceae</span> Family of flowering plants

The Valerianaceae Batsch, the valerian family, was a family of flowering plants that is now considered part of the Caprifoliaceae. Plants are generally herbaceous, and their foliage often has a strong, disagreeable odor. They are found native in most regions of the world except for Australia. Some species are cultivated as ornamentals or used in herbal medicine for inducing relaxation and sleep.

<i>Valeriana</i> Genus of flowering plants in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae

Valeriana is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caprifoliaceae, members of which may be commonly known as valerians. It contains many species, including the garden valerian, Valeriana officinalis. Species are native to all continents except Antarctica, with centers of diversity in Eurasia and South America.

<i>Cephalanthera rubra</i> Species of orchid

Cephalanthera rubra, known as red helleborine, is an orchid found in Europe, North Africa and southwest Asia. Although reasonably common in parts of its range, this Cephalanthera has always been one of the rarest orchids in Britain.

<i>Canna indica</i> Species of flowering plant

Canna indica, commonly known as Indian shot, African arrowroot, edible canna, purple arrowroot, Sierra Leone arrowroot, is a plant species in the family Cannaceae. It is native to much of South America, Central America, the West Indies, and Mexico. It is also naturalized in the southeastern United States, and much of Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.

<i>Centaurea montana</i> Species of plant

Centaurea montana, the perennial cornflower, mountain cornflower, bachelor's button, montane knapweed or mountain bluet, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, endemic to Europe. It is widespread and common in the more southerly mountain ranges of Europe, but is rarer in the north. It escapes from gardens readily, and has thereby become established in the British Isles, Scandinavia and North America. This plant has become an invasive species in British Columbia, Canada. Centaurea montana grows in meadows and open woodland in the upper montane and sub-alpine zones, in basic areas. It grows to 30–70 centimetres (12–28 in) tall, and flowers mainly from May to August.

<i>Filipendula rubra</i> Species of flowering plant

Filipendula rubra, also known as queen-of-the-prairie, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae native to the northeastern and central United States and southeastern Canada. It prefers full sun or partial shade and moist soil, but tolerates drier soil in a shadier location. It grows tall and firm, and produces blooms that are tiny and pink above its ferny, pointy leaves.

<i>Lysichiton americanus</i> Species of flowering plant

Lysichiton americanus, also called western skunk cabbage (US), yellow skunk cabbage (UK), American skunk-cabbage or swamp lantern, is a plant found in swamps and wet woods, along streams and in other wet areas of the Pacific Northwest, where it is one of the few native species in the arum family.

<i>Festuca rubra</i> Species of flowering plant

Festuca rubra is a species of grass known by the common name red fescue, creeping red fescue or the rush-leaf fescue. It is widespread across much of the Northern Hemisphere and can tolerate many habitats and climates. It is best adapted to well-drained soils in cool, temperate climates; it prefers shadier areas and is often planted for its shade tolerance. Wild animals browse it, but it has not been important for domestic forage due to low productivity and palatability. It is also an ornamental plant for gardens.

<i>Plumeria rubra</i> Species of tree

Plumeria rubra is a deciduous plant species belonging to the genus Plumeria. Originally native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Venezuela, it has been widely cultivated in subtropical and tropical climates worldwide and is a popular garden and park plant, as well as being used in temples and cemeteries. It grows as a spreading tree to 7–8 m (23–26 ft) high and wide, and is flushed with fragrant flowers of shades of pink, white and yellow over the summer and autumn.

<i>Spiraea japonica</i> Flowering plant in the family Rosaceae

Spiraea japonica, the Japanese meadowsweet or Japanese spiraea, is a plant in the family Rosaceae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catnip</span> Nepeta cataria; species of plant

Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip, catswort, catwort, and catmint, is a species of the genus Nepeta in the family Lamiaceae, native to southern and eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, parts of Mongolia, and parts of China. It is widely naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. The common name catmint can also refer to the genus as a whole.

<i>Leucopogon parviflorus</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon parviflorus, commonly known as coast beard-heath or native currant, is a shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae. It is native to all Australian states and territories excluding the Northern Territory and the ACT and also grows in New Zealand. The species can grow to between 1 and 5 metres in height and has leaves that are 11 to 29 mm long and 2.4 to 7.5 mm in width, often with curved tips. The white flowers are around 15 mm long and are produced in spikes of 7 to 13. These occur throughout the year.

<i>Lonicera tatarica</i> Species of honeysuckle

Lonicera tatarica is a species of honeysuckle known by the common name Tatarian honeysuckle. Native to Eurasia, the plant is one of several exotic bush honeysuckles present in North America, being considered an invasive species there.

<i>Ilex cornuta</i> Species of holly

Ilex cornuta, commonly known as Chinese holly or horned holly, is a slow-growing, densely foliaged evergreen shrub in the Aquifoliaceae plant family. It is native to eastern China and Korea and attains a height of about 3 metres (9.8 ft). The leaves are usually 5-spined, between 3.5 cm and 10 cm long, oblong and entire. The fruits are red berries, which are larger than those of the European Holly.

<i>Oxalis articulata</i> Species of flowering plant

Oxalis articulata, known as pink-sorrel, pink wood sorrel, windowbox wood-sorrel, chari amilo (Nepal), sourgrass, netho (khatta) saag (India) is a perennial plant species in the genus Oxalis native to temperate South America. It has been introduced in Europe in gardens and is now naturalized in these areas.

<i>Valeriana macrosiphon</i> Species of flowering plant

Valeriana macrosiphon, also commonly called long-spurred valerian, is a herb of the family Caprifoliaceae.

<i>Trioza centranthi</i> Sap-sucking hemipteran bug

Trioza centranthi is a sap-sucking hemipteran bug in the family Triozidae which creates galls on the leaves and flowers of Centranthus and Valerianella species. It was first described by Jean Nicolas Vallot, a French entomologist in 1829 and is found in Europe.

References

  1. 1 2 "Valeriana rubra L." Plants of the World Online . Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  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. 1 2 3 4 "Centranthus ruber". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Centranthus ruber - Invasive Species | Cape Town Invasives". www.capetowninvasives.org.za. Archived from the original on 2016-08-25. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  5. "NEMBA Invasive Alien Species Regulations List published for public comment". Archived from the original on 2016-08-08.
  6. "Invasive Species South Africa - Protecting Biodiversity from Invasion - Red valerian | Centranthus ruber" . Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  7. "Invasive Alien Plant Alert | SANBI". www.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2016-06-29.