- Zauschneria
Taxobox
name = Zauschneria
image_width = 240px
image_caption = Zauschneria flowers
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Myrtales
familia =Onagraceae
genus = "Epilobium "
species = "E. canum"
binomial = "Epilobium canum"
binomial_authority = (Greene) RavenZauschneria ("Epilobium canum") is a
species of willowherb, native to dry slopes and inchaparral of westernNorth America . It is aperennial plant , notable for the profusion of bright scarletflower s in late summer and autumn.The name reflects that in the past it used to be treated in a distinct genus "Zauschneria", but modern studies have shown that it is best placed within the genus "Epilobium". Other common names include California-fuchsia (from the resemblance of the flowers to those of
Fuchsia s), hummingbird flower, and hummingbird trumpet (the flowers are very attractive tohummingbird s).It is a
subshrub growing to 60 cm tall. Native populations of these plants exhibit considerable variation in appearance and habit. The small leaves may be opposite or alternate, lance-shaped or ovate, with short to nonexistent stalks, and range in color from green to nearly white. Overall shape may be matting or mounding, the plants commonly spreading viarhizome s. Theraceme s of tubular or funnel-shaped flowers are terminal, and colors are mostly reddish, ranging from fuchsia to pink to red-orange.The wide degree of variation has led to the description of many
subspecies , mostly no longer recognised as distinct due to the extansive intergradation between them; the following are still recognised:
*"Epilobium canum" subsp. "canum" (syn. subsp. "angustifolia", subsp. "microphylla")
*"Epilobium canum" subsp. "garrettii"
*"Epilobium canum" subsp. "latifolium"The closely related species "Epilobium septentrionale" (Northern Willowherb) was also formerly treated in the genus "Zauschneria".
Cultivation
As befits their origin, they prefer to be cultivated in well-drained soil exposed to full sun but protected from the wind, and need little watering.
A small number of hybrid
cultivar s have been introduced by various growers, in some cases by working from isolated populations, such as those onSanta Cruz Island off theCalifornia coast.The plant is named after
Johann Baptista Josef Zauschner (1737-1799), a professor ofmedicine andbotany inPrague .External links
* [http://www.suncrestnurseries.com/specialistdescrpt/epilobium.html A description of species variability]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050207021226/http://www.nybg.org/bsci/hcol/intf/Onagraceae.html Old specimens at the New York Botanical Garden] (archive link, was dead)
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