Acker-Meier

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Acker-Meier
Acker Meier (Asperula arvensis)

Acker Meier ( Asperula arvensis )

Systematics
Subfamily : Rubioideae
Tribe : Rubieae
Sub tribus : Rubiinae
Genre : Meier ( Asperula )
Section : Asperula
Type : Acker-Meier
Scientific name
Asperula arvensis
L.

The Acker-Meier , also Acker-Meister , ( Asperula arvensis ) is a species of the genus Meier ( Asperula ). This Mediterranean field weed is considered extinct in Central Europe due to the intensification of agriculture.

Description and ecology

Terminal inflorescence with four-fold flowers

Vegetative characteristics

The germination of this therophyte takes place in March to April. The Acker-Meier grows as a deciduous, annual , herbaceous plant and usually reaches heights of 10 to 25, rarely up to 50 centimeters. The upright, branched stems is bald and often has at its base the two cotyledons ( cotyledons ). The leaves are usually in groups of four, in the upper part of the stem there are six to eight in whorls. The simple leaf blade is linear-lanceolate and glabrous, but rough on top.

Generative characteristics

The flowering period extends from May to August. The flowers stand together in terminal, tufted inflorescences and are surrounded by ciliate bracts. The sessile, hermaphrodite, four-fold flowers are 5 to 6 millimeters long. The four petals are mostly blue-violet to light blue, rarely white. The corolla tube is longer than the four corolla lobes.

The brown partial fruits are 2 to 3 millimeters in size.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 22.

Occurrence

The Acker-Meier originally came from Central Europe and the Mediterranean region. In Germany it has been proven in excavations for prehistoric times. However, due to intensive agriculture , it practically disappeared from Central Europe in the first half of the 20th century. In Germany and Austria , the Acker-Meier is therefore on the red list and is considered to be extinct or lost. The Acker-Meier is rare in France. However, locations still exist in the Mediterranean region, particularly in Spain , Italy and Portugal . Acker-Meier is also still present in North Africa and the Middle East. In the course of emigration from Europe, the Acker-Meier had also reached the eastern part of the North American continent and the eastern part of Australia , where it can still be found in isolated cases today.

The Acker-Meier is a typical field weed that grows mainly in grain fields, sometimes also on fallow land and in vineyards. It thrives best on limestone and often clay-rich soils . It generally occurs in relatively warm locations, although in the Alps it can also be found at altitudes above 1000 meters. The plant is a characteristic species of the Caucalidion lappulae association in Central Europe .

The Acker-Meier is also occasionally kept in gardens in Central Europe as part of private efforts to preserve the diversity of plants.

Systematics

The first publication of Asperula arvensis was carried out in 1753 by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum , Vol 1, p 103. Synonyms for Asperula arvensis L. are Galium sherardiiflorum E.HLKrause and Galium arvense ( L. ) F.Herm.

Asperula arvensis belongs to the Asperula section within the genus Asperula .

Acker-Meier in literature and history

In a letter from Ernst Haeckel to his parents published later on July 8, 1853 (29th letter), Haeckel reports on a hike to the Nikolausberg near Würzburg . He writes that he saw a "cute woodruff with blue flowers" there, which he also uses the botanical name Asperula arvensis .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d NOAH'S ARK . Variety manual. 2007, p. 238 .
  2. ↑ a b Asperula arvensis L., Acker-Meier. In: FloraWeb.de.
  3. ↑ a b Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . With the collaboration of Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , pp.  762 .
  4. ^ TA James & WK Allen: Asperula arvensis L. In: New South Wales Flora Online. PlantNet - The Plant Information Network System of The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, accessed January 12, 2012 .
  5. ^ Oskar Sebald, Siegmund Seybold, Georg Philippi, Arno Wörz (eds.): The fern and flowering plants of Baden-Württemberg. Volume 5: Special part (Spermatophyta, subclass Asteridae): Buddlejaceae to Caprifoliaceae. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3-8001-3342-3 .
  6. ↑ Rafaël Govaerts (ed.): Asperula arvensis. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  7. ↑ Valerie L. Soza & Richard G. Olmstead: Molecular systematics of tribe Rubieae (Rubiaceae): Evolution of major clades, development of leaf-like whorls, and biogeography . In: Taxon . tape 59 , no. 3 , 2010, p. 758 ( PDF ).

Web links

Commons : Acker-Meier ( Asperula arvensis )  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files