Quendel-leaved finial

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Quendel-leaved finial
Quendelblättrige finial (Polygala serpyllifolia)

Quendelblättrige finial ( Polygala serpyllifolia )

Systematics
Rosids
Eurosiden I
Order : Fabales (Fabales)
Family : Finial family (Polygalaceae)
Genre : Finials ( polygala )
Type : Quendel-leaved finial
Scientific name
Polygala serpyllifolia
Trousers

The polygala serpyllifolia ( Polygala serpyllifolia ), also Quendelblättriges milkwort called, is a plant from the genus of finials ( Polygala ) in the family of polygalaceae (Polygalaceae).

The plant genus was named Polygala because it was previously assumed that consumption by cattle would lead to more milk production. So is poly much and gala also comes from the Greek and means milk.

description

The Quendelblättrige finial is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches heights of only 5 to 20 cm and has a mostly upright stem . Lower leaves are sometimes found in clusters, but they do not form a rosette of leaves . The lower stem leaves are opposite, while the upper somewhat larger stem leaves are alternate on the stem. This is what distinguishes this species from the larger common finial . The shape of the leaves is oblong-lanceolate. The lateral flower shoots protrude above the main stem.

Quendula finial ( Polygala serpyllifolia ), illustration

The bracts are not hairy and are no longer than the flower stalks. There are up to ten individual flowers in dense racemose inflorescences . The flower buds do not protrude from the tip of the inflorescence. The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic . Of the total of five sepals , the two large lateral ones are colored like petals and envelop almost the entire flower. They are called "wings". The large lower fringed petal is called a boat . It should serve as an approach point for the insects and simplify pollination. The approximately 5 to 10 mm long petals are usually light blue, rarely white. Within the flower on the top of the finial has a bivalve bag that holds eight stamens which are four to one another grown, and the fruit leaves surrounds. Two overgrown carpels form the upper ovary . Nectar is excreted by special nectar glands only at the base of the flower, which is why the finial can only be pollinated by relatively long-nosed insects. The "wings" are 6 to 9 mm long and 3 to 5 mm wide and only slightly protrude from the ovary. They are rounded at the front and have 6 to 20 net meshes. The shuttle has a small, slashed, multi-lobed appendage at the front. The stylus is just as long as the ovary and ends like a spoon. The stamens are arranged like a ring on it. The sharp scar is very small and sticky. The flowering period is spring and early summer.

Winged capsule fruits are formed that are strongly flattened.

The species has chromosome numbers 2n = 32 or 34.

ecology

The Quendelblättrige finial survives the winter in the protective herb layer ( hemicryptophyte ).

Its flowers are mainly pollinated by medium to long-nosed insects such as bees and small butterflies. They have to stick their proboscis through a small spoon-like formation of the stylus and the stamens in order to get to the nectar. When pulling out the trunk, the pollen remains on the trunk, which is now sticky due to the sticky scar.

The seeds that germinate in the light are usually spread by the wind, more rarely by ants .

Occurrence and endangerment

The Quendelblättrige finial occurs only in Europe and America at altitudes up to a maximum of 1000 m in an Atlantic climate . It prefers alternately dry meadows and silicate grasslands . It is a character species of Juncetum squarrosi. The quendel-leaved finial indicates a moderately warm maritime climate and moist, acidic, nitrogen-poor soils with their appearance.

The quendel-leaved finial is considered endangered in Germany. The reasons for this are the scrub and afforestation of poor grassland and fallow land, the abandonment of the heather and the intensive grazing of fresh and wet meadows. Except in Bavaria and Saarland, the species is on the red list in all federal states . However, the species is considered harmless within Central Europe.

Taxonomy

The first description of the Quendelblättrigen Kreuzblume was by Johann Albert Hosé in the Ann. Bot. (Ed. Usteri) Volume 21, Page 39 (1797). The name Polygala serpyllacea Weihe is a later synonym, published in Flora, Volume 9: page 745 1826. Another synonym is Polygala depressa Wenderoth .

Sources and further information

The article is mainly based on the following documents:

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Oskar Sebald : Guide through nature. Wild plants of Central Europe. ADAC Verlag, Munich 1989, ISBN 3-87003-352-5 , p. 61.
  2. ↑ a b Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . 8th edition. Stuttgart, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, 2001. Page 642. ISBN 3-8001-3131-5

Web links

Commons : Quendelblättrige Kreuzblume ( Polygala serpyllifolia )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files