Blue rattle flower

Blue rattle flower
	Blue rattle flower ( Catananche caerulea )
Systematics
	Euasterids II
Order :	Astern-like (Asterales)
Family :	Daisy family (Asteraceae)
Subfamily :	Cichorioideae
Genre :	Rattle flowers ( Catananche )
Type :	Blue rattle flower
Scientific name
	Catananche caerulea
	L.

Catananche caerulea

The blue rattle flower ( Catananche caerulea ), also known as Cupid's arrow , is a species of rassel flower ( Catananche ) in the sunflower family (Asteraceae).

features

Flower head

The blue rasp flower is a perennial plant that reaches heights of 40 to 80 centimeters. The leaves are hairy gray, linear , three-veined and entire or have 2 to 4 distant teeth. They are up to 15 centimeters long and almost all basal . The heads are single, long stalked and have a diameter of 3 to 4 centimeters. The stem has flaky leaves. The marginal flowers are blue, the central ones purple. The bracts are silver-skinned and have a blue central nerve, the lowest are inserted on the stem .

Flowering time is from May to July, partly until August.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 18 or 36.

Occurrence

The blue rassel is found in south-western Europe and the western Mediterranean region in garrigues and sparse forests. The distribution area includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Portugal, Spain, Andorra, France and Italy.

use

The blue rassel is used as an ornamental plant for borders and as a cut flower. It has been in culture since 1588 at the latest. There are several varieties. The 'Alba' variety has white flowers, 'Major' has larger heads, these are blue-violet and purple in the middle.

literature

Eckehart J. Jäger, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd K. Müller (eds.): Rothmaler excursion flora from Germany. Volume 5: Herbaceous ornamental and useful plants . Spectrum Academic Publishing House, Berlin Heidelberg 2008, ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8 .

Individual evidence

^ Tropicos. [1]
↑ Werner Greuter (2006+): Compositae (pro parte majore). - In: W. Greuter & E. von Raab-Straube (eds.): Compositae. Euro + Med Plantbase - the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Datasheet Catananche caerulea In: Euro + Med Plantbase - the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity.

Web links

Commons : Blue Rasselblume ( Catananche caerulea ) - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

[Tropicos-1] Tropicos. [1]

[Euro+Med-2] Werner Greuter (2006+): Compositae (pro parte majore). - In: W. Greuter & E. von Raab-Straube (eds.): Compositae. Euro + Med Plantbase - the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Datasheet Catananche caerulea In: Euro + Med Plantbase - the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity.