Wahlenbergia capensis

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Cape bluebell
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Wahlenbergia capensis in the Kensington Bushland Reserve, Perth
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Wahlenbergia
Species:
W. capensis
Binomial name
Wahlenbergia capensis
Synonyms [1]

Wahlenbergia capensis, commonly known as the Cape bluebell, is a plant in the family Campanulaceae and is native to the Cape Province but has been introduced to Australia. It is an annual herb with up to four greenish blue, bell-shaped flowers with spreading petal lobes.

Contents

Habit Wahlenbergia capensis(2).jpg
Habit

Description

Wahlenbergia capensis is an annual herb with a one to a few stems and grows to a height of 14–50 cm (6–20 in). The lower leaves are egg-shaped to elliptic but become lance-shaped higher up. They are 9–40 mm (0.4–2 in) long and 1.5–10 mm (0.06–0.4 in) wide, sometimes with wavy edges and small teeth or lobes. Each plant has up to four bluish-green long stalked flowers that are dark blue near the centre and often have black spots. The five sepals are triangular, 4–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and hairy. The petals form a tube, bell-shaped near the base with five spreading, egg-shaped to broadly elliptic lobes, 6–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 3–7.5 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide. The five stamens have a filament 2.5–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and an anther 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. The style is dark blue with five branches on its tip. Flowering occurs from September to December. The fruit is a capsule 5–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 5–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Cape bluebell was first formally described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus who gave it the name Campanula capensis and published the description in Species Plantarum . [4] [5] In 1830, Alphonse Pyramus de Candolle changed the name to Wahlenbergia capensis. [6] The specific epithet (capensis) refers to the native distribution of the species, the ending -ensis being a Latin suffix "denoting place, locality or country". [7]

Distribution and habitat

Wahlenbergia capensis is widespread in, and restricted to the Western Cape between Clanwilliam and Knysna in South Africa. It is found on the lower sandstone slopes and the sandy flats of this region. [8] [9] Due to its annual life cycle it is also able to persist successfully on disturbed land, such as along roadsides and on cultivated land. [8] It is an introduced species occurring in the south-west of Western Australia where it is found between Kalbarri and Tambellup. The species was first collected in Western Australia in 1898. [2] [3] [10]

Ecology

The flowers are pollinated by monkey beetles. [11] Large numbers of seeds are produced in capsules. There are two main methods of dispersal. The first of these is through the strong summer winds of the region. The seeds are shaken out through the apical valves of the capsule. Alternately, the capsule may attach to the fur of animals by its coarse, stiff hairs, facilitating the dispersal of the seed-filled capsules. [8]

Conservation

While it has not formally been assessed by the IUCN, this species is common and widespread. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) does not consider this species to be threatened. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Campanula</i> Genus of flowering plants in the bellflower family Campanulaceae

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".

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

Wahlenbergia gloriosa, commonly known as royal bluebell is a perennial herb in the bluebell family Campanulaceae. It has egg-shaped leaves near the base of its stem, linear leaves higher up and usually a single purple flower with a tube-shaped base. The flower is the floral emblem of the Australian Capital Territory.

<i>Wahlenbergia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Wahlenbergia is a genus of around 260 species of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae. Plants in this genus are perennial or annual herbs with simple leaves and blue to purple bell-shaped flowers, usually with five petals lobes. Species of Wahlenbergia are found on all continents except North America, and on some isolated islands, but the greatest diversity occurs in the Southern Hemisphere.

<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>Leptospermum sericeum</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum sericeum, commonly known as the silver tea tree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has thin, firm bark, egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, relatively large, pink flowers and fruit that fall from the plant with the seeds. It grows in windswept rock crevices near Esperance.

<i>Isotoma anethifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Isotoma anethifolia is a small herbaceous plant in the family Campanulaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has single, mostly white flowers in the leaf axils and slender stems.

<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.

Wahlenbergia planiflora, commonly known as flat bluebell, is a small herbaceous plant in the family Campanulaceae native to eastern Australia.

<i>Epacris gnidioides</i> Species of Australian heath (plant)

Epacris gnidioides, commonly known as Budawangs cliff-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales. It is a small, creeping shrub with hairy branches, sharply-pointed lance-shaped leaves, and tube-shaped, white flowers.

Goodenia centralis is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to central Australia. It is a prostrate, annual herb with coarsely toothed, spatula-shaped to egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and racemes of yellow flowers with purple veins.

Goodenia faucium, commonly known as the Mount Liebig goodenia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to the Northern Territory. It is a shrubby perennial with narrow elliptic to egg-shaped, toothed leaves and racemes of yellow flowers.

Goodenia iyouta is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a prostrate herb with toothed, egg-shaped to elliptic stem-leaves, and racemes of dark yellow or cream-coloured flowers with a distinct pouch.

Goodenia krauseana is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to part of Western Australia. It is a prostrate to ascending herb densely covered with silvery bristles, and has lance-shaped leaves at the base, sometimes with a few teeth on the edges, and small groups of yellow flowers with a brownish centre.

Goodenia megasepala is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a prostrate to low-lying herb with toothed or lobed, lance-shaped to narrow elliptic leaves, and racemes of yellow flowers.

Goodenia occidentalis, commonly known as western goodenia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to drier parts of southern Australia. It is a short-lived prostrate to low-lying herb with scaly, lance-shaped leaves and racemes of yellow flowers with a brownish centre.

Goodenia schwerinensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to inland areas of Western Australia. It is a prostrate to low-lying herb with elliptic to lance-shaped leaves with toothed or lyrate edges, and racemes of yellow flowers.

Goodenia suffrutescens is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to inland areas of north-eastern Western Australia. It is an undershrub with low-lying branches, toothed, lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and thyrses of blue flowers.

<i>Goodenia triodiophila</i> Species of plant

Goodenia triodiophila, commonly known as spinifex goodenia in the Northern Territory, is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to arid inland areas of Central Australia. It is a stiff, wiry, much-branched, ascending perennial herb with needle-shaped or linear leaves on the stems and racemes of yellow flowers with a brownish centre.

References

  1. 1 2 "Wahlenbergia capensis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 1 2 Smith, Peter J. (1992). "A revision of the genus Wahlenbergia (Campanulaceae) in Australia". Telopea. 5 (1): 161–162. doi: 10.7751/telopea19924963 .
  3. 1 2 Cupido, Christopher. "Wahlenbergia capensis". South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  4. ↑ "Campanula capensis". APNI. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  5. ↑ Linnaeus, Carl (1753). Species Plantarum. Stockholm. p. 169. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  6. ↑ "Wahlenbergia capensis". APNI. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  7. ↑ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 303.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Wahlenbergia capensis". PlantZAfrica. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  9. ↑ Clarke, Hugh G.; Corinne Merry (2019). Wild flowers of the Cape Peninsula (Third expanded ed.). Cape Town. ISBN   978-1-77584-640-6. OCLC   1124073483.
  10. ↑ "Wahlenbergia capensis". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  11. ↑ Goldblatt, Peter; Bernhardt, Peter; Manning, John C. (1998). "Pollination of Petaloid Geophytes by Monkey Beetles (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Hopliini) in Southern Africa". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 85 (2): 215. doi:10.2307/2992006. JSTOR   2992006.
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