Melianthus comosus: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
properties
 
(14 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant in the family Francoaceae}}
{{italictitle}}{{taxobox
{{Italic title}}
⚫
|name=Honey flower
{{Speciesbox
⚫
|name = Honey flower
|image = Melianthus comosus 2.jpg
|image = Melianthus comosus 2.jpg
⚫
|genus = Melianthus
|regnum = [[Plant]]ae
⚫
|species = comosus
|unranked_divisio = [[Angiosperms]]
⚫
|authority = [[Martin Vahl|Vahl]], 1794
|unranked_classis = [[Eudicots]]
|unranked_subclassis = [[Rosids]]
|ordo = [[Geraniales]]
|familia = [[Melianthaceae]]
⚫
|genus = ''[[Melianthus]]''
⚫
|species = '''''M. comosus'''''
|binomial = ''Melianthus comosus''
⚫
|binomial_authority = [[Martin Vahl|Vahl]], 1794
|synonyms =
|synonyms =
''Diplerisma comosum'' <small>(Vahl) Planch.</small><ref name=tpl>{{cite web|title=Melianthus comosus Vahl|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2504992|work=The Plant List |accessdate=1 May 2014}}</ref>
''Diplerisma comosum'' <small>(Vahl) Planch.</small><ref name=tpl>{{cite web|title=Melianthus comosus Vahl|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2504992|work=The Plant List |accessdate=1 May 2014}}</ref>
''Melianthus minor'' <small>L.</small><ref name=han>{{cite journal|last=Hansen|first=Dennis M. |coauthors=Olesen, Jens M.; Mione, Thomas; Johnson, Steven D.; Müller, Christine B. |title=Coloured nectar: distribution, ecology, and evolution of an enigmatic floral trait |journal=Biological Reviews |date=2007 |volume=82 |issue=1 |pages=83–111 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-185X.2006.00005.x |url=http://www.uwinst.uzh.ch/publications/ThesisHansen06.pdf |accessdate=1 May 2014}}</ref>
''Melianthus minor'' <small>L.</small><ref name=han>{{cite journal|last=Hansen|first=Dennis M. |author2=Olesen, Jens M. |author3=Mione, Thomas |author4=Johnson, Steven D. |author5= Müller, Christine B. |title=Coloured nectar: distribution, ecology, and evolution of an enigmatic floral trait |journal=Biological Reviews |date=2007 |volume=82 |issue=1 |pages=83–111 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-185X.2006.00005.x |url=http://www.uwinst.uzh.ch/publications/ThesisHansen06.pdf |accessdate=1 May 2014 |pmid=17313525|s2cid=21719506 }}</ref>
|}}
}}


'''''Melianthus comosus''''' ('''Honey flower''') is a [[species]] of [[flowering plant]] in the [[family (biology)|family]] Melianthaceae. It is native to the mostly dry regions of southern Africa. The attractive multi-stemmed shrubs are popular garden subjects. The [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]] name '''Kruidjie-roer-my-nie''' (''herb-touch-me-not'') alludes to the unpleasant smell that results from bruising of any part of the plant.<ref name=harris>{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Shireen |title=Melianthus comosus Vahl |url=http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/melicomo.htm |work=plantzafrica |publisher=Free State National Botanical Garden| date = September 2004 | accessdate=2 May 2014}}</ref> The vegetative parts are very toxic, as with other ''[[Melianthus]]'' species, and the leaf and stem extracts have anti-bacterial properties.<ref>Kelmanson, Jäger & van Staden, (2000)</ref>
'''''Melianthus comosus''''', the '''honey flower''', is a [[species]] of [[flowering plant]] in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Francoaceae]]. It is native to the mostly dry regions of southern Africa. The attractive multi-stemmed shrubs are popular garden subjects. The [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]] name '''kruidjie-roer-my-nie''' (''herb-touch-me-not'') alludes to the unpleasant smell that results from bruising of any part of the plant.<ref name=harris>{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Shireen |title=Melianthus comosus Vahl |url=http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/melicomo.htm |work=PlantZAfrica.com |publisher=Free State National Botanical Garden| date = September 2004 | accessdate=2 May 2014}}</ref> The vegetative parts are very toxic, as with other ''[[Melianthus]]'' species, and extracts of the leaves and stem have anti-bacterial properties.<ref>Kelmanson, Jäger & van Staden, (2000)</ref>


==Range==
==Range==
Line 23: Line 18:


==Flowers==
==Flowers==
The flowers which produce copious black nectar<ref group = note>Also described as dark brown but J. Henning records that black nectar is found in ''M. comosus'', ''M. elongatus'' and ''M. villosus'', and brown nectar in the remaining species. See Hansen et al.</ref> are [[zygomorphic]] in shape, and green to pale pink in colour.<ref name=han/><ref>{{cite journal|journal=Curtis’s Botanical Magazine |date=1795 |volume=9 |page=Plate 301}}</ref> The black nectar is visible through the pale green, semi-transparent sepals. A flower produces an average of 42 μl of nectar a day, with a 10% sugar content, which has been described as a "rich black honey" that almost fills the cup.<ref name=sco>Scott-Elliot (1890)</ref> [[Martin Vahl|Vahl]]'s description of the species in 1794 however omitted any mention of the coloured nectar, or its abundance.<ref name=han/>
The flowers which produce copious black nectar<ref group = note>Also described as dark brown but J. Henning records that black nectar is found in ''M. comosus'', ''M. elongatus'' and ''M. villosus'', and brown nectar in the remaining species. See Hansen et al.</ref> are [[zygomorphic]] in shape, and green to pale pink in colour.<ref name=han/><ref>{{cite journal|journal=Curtis's Botanical Magazine |date=1795 |volume=9 |page=Plate 301}}</ref> The black nectar is visible through the pale green, semi-transparent sepals. A flower produces an average of 42 μl of nectar a day, with a 10% sugar content, which has been described as a "rich black honey" that almost fills the cup.<ref name=sco>Scott-Elliot (1890)</ref> [[Martin Vahl|Vahl]]'s description of the species in 1794 however omitted any mention of the coloured nectar, or its abundance.<ref name=han/>


==Uses and species associations==
==Uses and species associations==
Honey from its flowers is dark in colour, and apparently not toxic to humans.<ref name=mar>Marloth (1925)</ref> The flowers are visited by insects and birds,<ref name=han/> especially sunbirds which eagerly seek them out.<ref name=sco/><ref name=mab>Mabberley (1997)</ref>
Honey from its flowers is dark in colour, and apparently not toxic to humans.<ref name=mar>Marloth (1925)</ref> The flowers are visited by insects and birds,<ref name=han/> especially sunbirds which eagerly seek them out.<ref name=sco/><ref name=mab>Mabberley (1997)</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{Reflist|group=note}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Commons}}
{{commons}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Taxonbar|from=Q16755269}}

[[Category:Flora of Lesotho]]
[[Category:Flora of Namibia]]
[[Category:Flora of South Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of South Africa]]
[[Category:Melianthaceae]]
[[Category:Francoaceae]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1794]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1794]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Martin Vahl]]



{{Rosid-stub}}
{{Geraniales-stub}}

Latest revision as of 22:01, 27 December 2023

Honey flower
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Geraniales
Family: Francoaceae
Genus: Melianthus
Species:
M. comosus
Binomial name
Melianthus comosus
Vahl, 1794
Synonyms

Diplerisma comosum (Vahl) Planch.[1] Melianthus minor L.[2]

Melianthus comosus, the honey flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Francoaceae. It is native to the mostly dry regions of southern Africa. The attractive multi-stemmed shrubs are popular garden subjects. The Afrikaans name kruidjie-roer-my-nie (herb-touch-me-not) alludes to the unpleasant smell that results from bruising of any part of the plant.[3] The vegetative parts are very toxic, as with other Melianthus species, and extracts of the leaves and stem have anti-bacterial properties.[4]

Range[edit]

It is native to South Africa, western Lesotho and southern Namibia, where it occurs from 400 to 2,000 m above sea level.[2] In South Africa it occurs in the greater part of the Cape and Free State provinces, and locally in North West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

Flowers[edit]

The flowers which produce copious black nectar[note 1] are zygomorphic in shape, and green to pale pink in colour.[2][5] The black nectar is visible through the pale green, semi-transparent sepals. A flower produces an average of 42 μl of nectar a day, with a 10% sugar content, which has been described as a "rich black honey" that almost fills the cup.[6] Vahl's description of the species in 1794 however omitted any mention of the coloured nectar, or its abundance.[2]

Uses and species associations[edit]

Honey from its flowers is dark in colour, and apparently not toxic to humans.[7] The flowers are visited by insects and birds,[2] especially sunbirds which eagerly seek them out.[6][8]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Also described as dark brown but J. Henning records that black nectar is found in M. comosus, M. elongatus and M. villosus, and brown nectar in the remaining species. See Hansen et al.

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melianthus comosus.
  1. ^ "Melianthus comosus Vahl". The Plant List. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hansen, Dennis M.; Olesen, Jens M.; Mione, Thomas; Johnson, Steven D.; Müller, Christine B. (2007). "Coloured nectar: distribution, ecology, and evolution of an enigmatic floral trait" (PDF). Biological Reviews. 82 (1): 83–111. doi:10.1111/j.1469-185X.2006.00005.x. PMID 17313525. S2CID 21719506. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  3. ^ Harris, Shireen (September 2004). "Melianthus comosus Vahl". PlantZAfrica.com. Free State National Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  4. ^ Kelmanson, Jäger & van Staden, (2000)
  5. ^ Curtis's Botanical Magazine. 9: Plate 301. 1795. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ a b Scott-Elliot (1890)
  7. ^ Marloth (1925)
  8. ^ Mabberley (1997)


Stub icon

This Geraniales-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Melianthus_comosus&oldid=1192149702"