Petunia

Taxobox
name = "Petunia"

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Petunia x hybrida" flower
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Solanales
familia = Solanaceae
genus = "Petunia"
genus_authority = Juss.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =

:"For "Petunia Pig", a Looney Tunes character, see: Petunia Pig":"For Aunt Petunia, see: Aunt Petunia":"For the Happy Tree Friends character, see: Petunia (Happy Tree Friends)

"Petunia" is a trumpet shaped, widely-cultivated genus of flowering plants of South American origin, in the family Solanaceae. The popular flower got its name from French, which took the word "petun" 'tobacco' from a Tupi-Guarani language. Most of the varieties seen in gardens are hybrids ("Petunia x hybrida").

The origin of "P. x hybrida" is thought to be by hybridization between "P. axillaris" (the large white or night-scented petunia) and "P. integrifolia" (the violet-flowered petunia). "P. axillaris" bears night-fragrant, buff-white blossoms with long, thin tubes and somewhat flattened openings. The species was first sent from South America to Paris in 1823. "P. integrifolia" has a somewhat weedy habit, spreading stems with upright tips, and small lavender to purple flowers. It was discovered in South America by the explorer James Tweedie, after whom the genus "Tweedia" is named, who sent specimens to the Glasgow Botanical Garden in 1831. Many open-pollinated species are also gaining popularity in the home garden. [Allan M. Armitage, "Armitage's Manual of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials" (Portland: Timber Press, 2001). ] A wide range of flower colors, sizes, and plant architectures are available in both the hybrid and open-pollinated species.

Some botanists place the plants of the genus "Calibrachoa" in the genus "Petunia". Botanically speaking, tobacco, tomato, potato, and petunia are all in the family Solanaceae.

Petunias are generally insect pollinated with the exception of "P. exserta", which is a rare, red-flowered, hummingbird pollinated species. Most petunias are diploid with 14 chromosomes and are interfertile with other petunia species.

The foliage of "Petunia"s is sometimes eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Dot Moth and Hummingbird hawk moth.

Petunias in popular culture

* In "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams, two guided missiles fired at the Heart of Gold spaceship from the planet Magrathea turned into a bowl of petunias and a sperm whale after an improbability button was triggered.

References