Enchanter's nightshade | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Onagraceae |
Genus: | Circaea |
Species: | C. alpina |
Binomial name | |
Circaea alpina L. | |
Range within North America |
Circaea alpina, commonly called alpine enchanter's nightshade, small enchanter's nightshade, or dwarf enchanter's nightshade is a 10–30 cm tall perennial herb found in cool forests of the Northern Hemisphere.
Description
The leaves are opposite, ovate, 2–6 cm and coarsely dentate. The 1.5–4 cm (0.6–1.6 in) petioles have a wing beneath. The flowers and fruits are clustered near the top of the fruiting raceme; each raceme bears 15 or less white or pink flowers in mid-May through early September. Each flower has two white to light pink petals 1–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) long with two lobes. The two white sepals are 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) long. The fruit is a small bur with one seed. C. alpina can reproduce vegetatively and via stolons.
Distribution
In North America, Circaea alpina is distributed throughout all of Canada and North Carolina through Maine and New Mexico through Washington. In Eurasia, the range of C. alpina includes Northern Europe south to Albania and Bulgaria and east to Korea and Japan. C. alpina prefers a moist, upland habitat. It is generally found in forests or near streams from sea level to 3,000 metres (10,000 ft).
Hybrids
Circaea alpina will hybridize with Circaea lutetiana producing sterile offspring that persists in vegetative colonies.
References
- ^ "Species details : Circaea alpina". ITIS: Catalogue of Life. Archived from the original on 2016-08-14. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- ^ "Alpine Enchanter's Nightshade". Naturegate. Archived from the original on 2023-03-15. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- "Circaea alpina (Alpine Enchanter's Nightshade)". www.minnesotawildflowers.info. Minnesota: Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. 2024-07-20. Archived from the original on 2024-04-15. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
- ^ Klinkenberg, Brian, ed. (2014). "Circaea alpina". E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia . Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- Giblin, David, ed. (2015). "Circaea alpina". WTU Herbarium Image Collection. Burke Museum, University of Washington. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- "Circaea alpina". Jepson eFlora: Taxon page. Jepson Herbarium; University of California, Berkeley. 2015. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- ^ Sullivan, Steven. K. (2015). "Circaea alpina". Wildflower Search. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- "Circaea alpina". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture; Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2015. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- ^ Rhoads, Block (2007-09-05). The Plants of Pennsylvania (2 ed.). ISBN 978-0-8122-4003-0.
External links
- Media related to Circaea alpina at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Circaea alpina at Wikispecies
Taxon identifiers | |
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Circaea alpina |
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