Biology:Mackaya bella
| Mackaya bella | |
|---|---|
| |
| Flowers are bilaterally symmetric | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Acanthaceae |
| Genus: | Mackaya |
| Species: | M. bella
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mackaya bella Harv.[2]
| |
| Synonyms[3] | |
|
Asystasia bella (Harv.) Vesque | |
Mackaya bella, called the forest bell bush, is a species of flowering plant in the acanthus family Acanthaceae, native to South Africa (Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, and Northern Provinces) and Eswatini.[3]
Description
Growing to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tall and broad, it is an erect, evergreen shrub with opposite arranged 4 to 5 inch long glossy, slim, elliptically-shaped dark green leaves that feature wavy margins and salient midrib and veins on the lower surface.[4]
2 inch long, trumpet-shaped, pale lilac to lavender flowers veined in purple appear profusely in spring and early summer. The throats have noticeable deep purple veins.[4]
Cultivation
The plant is not hardy below −6 °C (21 °F), therefore in colder temperate zones requires protection during the winter months.[4] However, it may be placed outside in a sheltered spot in summer. It requires an alkaline or neutral soil.[5]
It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5]
References
- ↑ Timberlake, J.R. (2022). "Mackaya bella". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T209832062A209944310.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/209832062/209944310. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ↑ Thes. Cap. 1: 8 (1859)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Mackaya bella Harv.". Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:52245-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Mackaya bella - Forest Bell Bush San Marcos Growers. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Mackaya bella". The Royal Horticultural Society. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/10659/Mackaya-bella/Details.
Wikidata ☰ Q17680597 entry
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