Blackstonia perfoliata

Blackstonia perfoliata
Blackstonia perfoliata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Gentianaceae
Genus: Blackstonia
Species: B. perfoliata
Binomial name
Blackstonia perfoliata
(L.) Huds.
Synonyms

Chlora perfoliata[1]

Blackstonia perfoliata or yellow-wort is a species of plant in the family Gentianaceae found around the Mediterranean Basin, but extending into northwestern Europe.

Pathogens affecting B. perfoliata include Peronospora chlorae.[2]

Description

Yellow-wort grows from ten to fifty centimetres, (four to twenty inches), tall with stiff, branching stems. The leaves are glaucous, opposite and entire, the upper ones perfoliate, being united at the base. It bears terminal cymes of bright yellow, stalked flowers, one to one and a half centimetres across. The calyx is deeply divided into 6-10 linear lobes or sepals, spirally arranged, free or nearly free from each other at the base and shorter than the corolla. The petals number six to ten and form a short tube. There are six to ten adherent stamens and a two-lobed stigma.[3]

Ecology

This species is found in chalk or limestone turf and on dunes. It flowers from June to October in Britain where it is widespread but not common.[3]

Yellow-wort

References

  1. ^ "Blackstonia perfoliata - (L.)Huds.". Plants for a future. http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Blackstonia+perfoliata. 
  2. ^ Hall, G.. "Peronospora chlorae". IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria. http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/Abstract.aspx?AcNo=20056401191. 
  3. ^ a b McClintock D. and Fitter, R. The Pocket Guide to Wildflowers. Collins (1956)