Biology:Campanula rapunculus

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Campanula rapunculus
Campanulaceae - Campanula rapunculus-5.JPG
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Campanula
Species:
C. rapunculus
Binomial name
Campanula rapunculus

Campanula rapunculus, common name rampion bellflower,[1] rampion, rover bellflower, or rapunzel, is a species of bellflower (Campanula) in the family Campanulaceae.[2]

This species was once widely grown in Europe for its leaves, which were used like spinach, and its parsnip-like root, which was used like a radish.[3] The Brothers Grimm's tale Rapunzel took its name from this plant.[4]

Etymology

The genus Latin name ("campanula"), meaning small bell, refers to the bell-shape of the flower, while the specific name ("rapunculus") is a diminutive of the Latin "rapa" (turnip) and means 'little turnip', which refers to the shape of the root.

Description

Close-up on flower of Campanula rapunculus

This biennial herbaceous plant reaches on average 40–80 centimetres (16–31 in) of height, with a maximum of 100 centimetres (39 in) . The stem is erect, lightly hairy, branched on the top. The basal leaves are petiolated, ovate, slightly toothed and arranged in a rosette, while the upper leaves are sessile and narrow lanceolate. The hermaphrodite flowers are clustered in a racemose inflorescence, with a bell-shaped, light blue or violet corolla, about two centimeters long. They are arranged along the stem in a fairly narrow one-sided facing cluster. The flowering period extends from May through September. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule in the form of inverted cone with many seeds. The thick root looks like a small turnip and it is edible. The chromosome number is 2n = 20.[5] There are wild bee species like from the genus Chelostoma that rely on Campanula rapunculus as a pollen source.[6]

Distribution

Campanula rapunculus is present in western Asia, northern Africa and in most of Europe, except Iceland, Ireland and Norway. It has been introduced in Denmark, southern Sweden and Great Britain. This species was once widely grown in Europe for its leaves, which were used like spinach, and its parsnip-like root, which was used like a radish.[3]

Habitat

Campanula rapunculus is winter-hardy.[7] It grows on poor soils.[8] This species prefers limestone soils and grows in dry meadows, cultivated beds, forests of oaks and pine trees, along roadsides and lane, at an altitude of 0–1,500 metres (0–4,921 ft) above sea level.

Cultivation

The rampion can be cultivated as a crop. It is sown at the beginning of June. A loose soil is favourable, fertilisation is not necessary. It grows best in well drained, rich sandy-loam soils which are neutral or alkaline with a pH of 4.8-7.5.[9] The seeds are very small (thousand grain weight 0.04g). For a more uniform seedling distribution, 20 times the amount of sand is mixed with the seeds before sowing. The row distance should be 20–25 cm. The seeds are not covered, but only lightly pressed onto the surface of the soil. After germination, the plants must be thinned. The roots can be harvested from October onwards throughout the winter.[7]

On a soil rich in carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen, a dry matter of up to 135g/m2 is possible, whereas on more sandy soils or sub-soils only 12-17g/m2 is achieved.[8]

Rampion is cultivated after highly demanding crops such as cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes or cucumbers. It can also be grown as a catch crop between lettuce.[7]

Synonyms

  • Campanula elatior Hoffmanns. & Link
  • Campanula lusitanica f. bracteosa (Willk.) Cout.
  • Campanula lusitanica f. racemoso-paniculata (Willk.) Cout.
  • Campanula lusitanica f. verruculosa (Hoffmanns. & Link) Cout.
  • Campanula lusitanica var. cymoso-spicata (Willk.) Cout.
  • Campanula lusitanica auct.
  • Campanula verruculosa Hoffmanns. & Link

Gallery

  • Inflorescence of Campanula rapunculus

  • Flowers of Campanula rapunculus

  • Flowers of Campanula rapunculus

  • Close-up on flowers of Campanula rapunculus, lateral view

  • Close-up on flower of Campanula rapunculus

  • Leaf of Campanula rapunculus

References

Notes

  1. ↑ (xls) BSBI List 2007, Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, https://bsbi.org/download/3542/, retrieved 2014-10-17 
  2. ↑ Anderberg, Arne; Anderberg, Anna-Lena. "Campanula rapunculus" (in Swedish). Den virtuella floran. Swedish Museum of Natural History. http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/campanula/campa/camprus.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wikisource-logo.svg Rines, George Edwin, ed (1920). "Rampion". Encyclopedia Americana. 
  4. ↑ Grimm, Jacob Ludwig Karl; Grimm, Wilhelm; Crick, Joyce (2005). "11. Rapunzel". Selected tales. Oxford world's classics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 51. ISBN 9780192804792. OCLC 799426092. "...when she noticed a bed planted with the most beautiful rampions, or rapunzels..." 
  5. ↑ Oberdorfer, Erich (2001). Pflanzensoziologische Exkursionsflora für Deutschland und angrenzende Gebiete (stark überarbeitete und ergänzte Auflage ed.). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Eugen Ulmer. pp. 895. ISBN 3-8001-3131-5. 
  6. ↑ Schlindwein, C.; Wittmann, D.; Martins, C. Feitosa; Hamm, A.; Siqueira, J. Alves; Schiffler, D.; Machado, I. C. (2005). "Pollination of Campanula rapunculus L. (Campanulaceae): How much pollen flows into pollination and into reproduction of oligolectic pollinators?" (in en). Plant Systematics and Evolution 250 (3–4): 147–156. doi:10.1007/s00606-004-0246-8. ISSN 0378-2697. http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00606-004-0246-8. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Becker-Dillingen, Josef (1929) (in de). Handbuch des gesamten Gemüsebaues einschliesslich des Gemüsesamenbaues, der Gewürz-, Arznei- und Küchenkräuter (2nd ed.). Hedemannstrasse 28, Deutschland: Verlagsbuchhandlung Paul Parey. pp. 708–709. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Bretzel, Francesca; Pezzarossa, Beatrice; Malorgio, Fernando (March 2009). "Study of herbaceous annual and perennial species native to Mediterranean area for landscape purposes". Acta Horticulturae (813): 321–328. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.813.41. ISSN 0567-7572. https://www.actahort.org/books/813/813_41.htm. Retrieved 2022-12-04. 
  9. ↑ "Useful Temperate Plants". 13 November 2022. https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Campanula+rapunculus. 

Bibliography

  • Pignatti S. (1982) Flora d'Italia, Vol. II. Edagricole. p. 687.

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q547186 entry



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