Biology:Galega

From HandWiki
Short description: Genus of leguminous plants

Galega
Galega orientalis Rehuvuohenherne C IMG 4803.JPG
G. orientalis, University of Helsinki Botanical Garden
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Galegeae
Genus: Galega
Tourn. ex L. (1753)
Species[1]

8; see text

Synonyms[2]
  • Accorombona Endl. (1841)
  • Callotropis G.Don (1832)

Galega, goat's rue, is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae, native to central and southern Europe, western Asia and tropical east Africa. They are tall, bushy, herbaceous perennials with erect racemes of pea-like flowers in shades of white, pink, blue or mauve. Their preferred habitats are sunny damp meadows or slopes.[3]

The species Galega officinalis and Galega orientalis are familiar in cultivation. Numerous cultivars and garden hybrids have also been produced, of which G. × hartlandii 'Lady Wilson' (bicoloured blue and white)[4] and the white-flowered G. × hartlandii 'Alba'[5] have both gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[6]

There are 6[7] to 8[1][8] species in the genus.

Eight species are accepted:[1]

  • Galega africana Mill.
  • Galega assyriaca Mouterde
  • Galega battiscombei (Baker f.) J.B.Gillett
  • Galega cirujanoi Garcia Mur. & Talavera
  • Galega lindblomii (Harms) J.B.Gillett
  • Galega officinalis L. - goat's rue, professor-weed
  • Galega orientalis Lam. - fodder galega
  • Galega somalensis (Taub. ex Harms) J.B.Gillett

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Galega Tourn. ex L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 25 August 2023
  2. Hanelt P., ed (2001). Mansfeld’s Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Except Ornamentals (1 ed.). Berlin: Springer-Verlag. pp. 799. ISBN 3-540-41017-1. 
  3. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. pp. 1136. ISBN 1405332964. 
  4. Galega × hartlandii 'Lady Wilson' AGM. Royal Horticultural Society.
  5. "RHS Plantfinder - Galega × hartlandii ‘Alba’". https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/60332/i-Galega-i-×-i-hartlandii-i-Alba/Details. 
  6. "AGM Plants - Ornamental". Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 39. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf. 
  7. González‐Andrés, F., et al. (2004). Management of Galega officinalis L. and preliminary results on its potential for milk production improvement in sheep. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 47(2) 233-45.
  8. Balezentiene, L. Introduction and agro economical value of Galega orientalis Lam. 3rd International Symposium on Weeds and Invasive Plants. Ancona, Switzerland. October 2–7, 2011.

Wikidata ☰ Q134918 entry