Common bitterroot
| Common bitterroot | ||||||||||||
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Common bitterwort ( Lewisia cotyledon ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Lewisia cotyledon | ||||||||||||
| ( S.Watson ) BLRob. |
The common bitterwort ( Lewisia cotyledon ), also known as porcelain rose , is a species of plant in the genus bitterwort ( Lewisia ) from the Montiaceae family .
description
The common bitter root forms a succulent , evergreen shrub with prostrate, flat branches. Their taproot is long and fleshy and merges into a fleshy caudex from which the branches spring. The basal, perennial foliage leaves are spread out flat and arranged in loose rosettes 10 to 15 (up to about 30 cm) in diameter. The leaves are stalked or sessile and very variable in shape: circular, ovoid, spatulate, lanceolate or linear. The leaf margins are smooth, curled or serrated.
The rising to almost upright racemose inflorescences , 10 to 12 (to 30) cm high, carry ten to 50 flowers densely . On the inflorescence stalk, the 10 to 15 mm long real leaves merge into the pointed, only 2 to 4 mm long bracts . The flowers are 2 to 4 cm in diameter. They carry two circular to oblong oval, about 5 × 5 mm large sepals and seven to ten quite variably shaped, about 12 to 20 × 5 mm large petals . The color of the petals is also variable, it is usually pink-purple with lighter and darker stripes, sometimes cream or white with orange-red stripes, rarely orange or yellow. There are five to ten stamens around the ovary with two to four stigmas . The 3 to 5 mm large fruit is narrowly oblong to ovoid and contains four to 15 approximately 1.5 mm large and shiny black seeds .
The growing season extends roughly from April to September; Flowers appear May to July.
The number of chromosomes is 2n = 28.
Varieties and their distribution
All varieties are native to the southwestern United States .
- Lewisia cotyledon ( S.Watson ) BLRob. 1897 var. Cotyledon has entire or slightly wavy leaves and twelve to 14 mm long petals. It grows in southwest Oregon and northwest California in crevices of rock slopes at heights of 300 to 2300 m above sea level.
- Lewisia cotyledon var. Heckneri ( CVMorton ) Munz 1958 has serrated leaves and twelve to 20 mm long petals. It grows in California in crevices and rocky slopes at heights of 450 to 2130 m above sea level.
- Lewisia cotyledon var. Howellii ( S.Watson ) Jeps. 1915 has clearly crinkled to wavy-curled leaves and twelve to 20 mm long petals. It grows in Oregon and California on rocky ground, sometimes in open forests at heights of 150 to 400 m above sea level.
In addition to the natural species and its varieties, there are a number of selected color variants and hybrids in culture .
cultivation
The common bitter root is ideal for planting sunny rock gardens and dry stone walls . It is completely hardy in Central Europe and does not require any protection or maintenance measures. Because of the fleshy root that no waterlogging tolerate that should ground but very well drained his. Also calcareous soil is not well tolerated. The species is not suitable for cultivation as a houseplant .
An increase is by leaf or branch cuttings possible. When propagating by seeds, it should be noted that the species is a cold germ .
literature
- Urs Eggli (Ed.): Succulents Lexicon Volume 2 Dicotyledonous plants (dicotyledons) except Aizoaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Cactaceae and Crassulaceae . Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 2002. ISBN 3-8001-3915-4
Individual evidence
- ^ Lewisia cotyledon at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
