Ajuga genevensis

Taxobox
name = "Ajuga genevensis"

---

caption = "Ajuga genevensis" in Germany
image_width = 260px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Lamiales
familia = Lamiaceae
subfamilia = Ajugoideae
genus = "Ajuga"
species = "A. genevensis"
binomial = "Ajuga genevensis"
binomial_authority = L.

"Ajuga genevensis" (also variously known as the upright bugle, blue bugle,cite web |url= http://www.bioimages.org.uk/html/T37876.HTM|title= Ajuga genevensis L. (Blue Bugle)|accessdate=2008-07-30 |last= Storey|first= Malcolm|publisher= BioImages] Geneva bugleweed,cite book |last= Hodgeson|first= Larry|title= Making the Most of Shade|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=HDij6Fmk2MwC&pg=RA1-PA27&dq=%22Ajuga+genevensis%22&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U3za__eapCTGb8t-vYW2edXExEApQ|accessdate= 2008-07-30|year= 2005|publisher= Rodale Press|isbn= 1579549667|pages= 127] blue bugleweed [cite book |last= McIndoe|first= Andrew|coauthors= Hobbs, Kevin|title= Perennials|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=taGxynmhi54C&pg=PT115&dq=%22Ajuga+genevensis%22&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U0cdmjKzU9RKvppLm10ore6aKp7Cw|accessdate= 2008-07-30|year= 2005|publisher= David & Charles|isbn= 1558707646|pages= 118] ) is a herbaceous flowering plant native to Europe. It is less common than its relative, "Ajuga reptans" (common bugle).

Description

"Ajuga genevensis" is a perennial plant (flowering between April and July) growing to a height of between 10 and 30cm.Tomanová, 178] Evergreen, it has long-stalked, obovate, basal leaves which are shallowly lobed or toothed.cite book |title= The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants|last= Brickell|first= Christopher|year= 1999|publisher= Dorling Kindersley|location= London|isbn= 1841000221|pages= 92] It has an upright stem with flowers arranged in dense, terminal, spike-like inflorescences. The flowers are usually violet-blue, though can be pink or white, and the uppermost flowers are often flushed with blue. When pink, it is sometimes known as "pink beauty", and when white, it is sometimes known as "alba". [cite book |last= Ellis|first= Barbara W.|title= Taylor's Guide to Perennials|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=hNHD_KvIVF8C&pg=PA37&dq=%22Ajuga+genevensis%22&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U2ydJBHpYqaCg4FgyP4Ahk0o1JG9g#PPA238,M1 |accessdate= 2008-07-30|year= 2001|publisher= Houghton Mifflin|isbn= 0395983630|pages= 238] The flowers have short upper-lips with protruding stamens and pistil. The plant sometimes suffers from "Erysiphe biocellata", a type of mildew.

Relatives

"Ajuga genevensis" is a less common relative of "Ajuga reptans", the common bugle, though it is common for the two plants to interbreed, as well as with "Ajuga pyramidalis", the pyramidal bugle, producing hybrid offspring that are very similar.Tomanová, 179] There are also several variants of "A. genevensis" such as var. "arida" (a variety with short grey hairs found in mountain meadows) and var. "elatior" (a mountain plant with randomly hairy stems). Both varieties vary slightly in the shape and size of the leaves and bracts.

Distribution

"Ajuga genevensis" are found on the edges of dry woods, as well as in thickets and grasslands. It is found at various locations around Europe including Sweden, France, Italy, Britain and from Macedonia to Caucasia. It can also be found growing wild in North America as a result of seeds that have escaped from gardens. [cite book |last= Rhoads|first= Ann Fowler|coauthors= Klein, William M.; Klein, Janet E.|title= The Vascular Flora of Pennsylvania|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=vD8LAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA304&dq=%22Ajuga+genevensis%22&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U3TdbFvd7kG6lJ6wqD1yKEPUfg4Bg|accessdate= 2008-07-30|year= 1993|publisher= DIANE Publishing|isbn= 0871692074|pages= 304] It is used as an ornamental plant in gardens worldwide, where it used in edges due to its slower spread compared with "A. reptans".

References

*cite book |title= The Hamlyn Book of Wild Flowers|last= Tomanová|first= Eliška|year= 1981|publisher= Hamlyn|location= Prague|isbn= 0600355829

External links

* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=AJGE&mapType=Large&format=Print&photoID=ajge_001_avd.tif "Ajuga genevensis"] in the USDA database