| Anagallis foemina | |
|---|---|
| Blue form | |
| Red form | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Myrsinaceae |
| Genus: | Anagallis |
| Species: | A. foemina |
| Binomial name | |
| Anagallis foemina Mill. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Anagallis foemina, common name Poorman's Weatherglass, is a low-growing annual herbaceous plant of the genus Anagallis belonging to the Myrsinaceae family.
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The genus name Anagallis derives from the Greek words ana meaning "again" and agallein meaning "to delight in", possibly referring to the fact that these plants produce flowers twice in a year and the flowers open whenever the sun strikes them.[1] The species epithet foemina means "female" and refers to the small size of the plant and the gentleness of its appearance. The common name refers to the fact that the flowers close at the approaching of the bad weather.[2]
Anagallis foemina has weak, square and sprawling stems growing to about 5–18 centimetres (2.0–7.1 in) long,[3] which bear bright green sessile leaves in opposite pairs. The leaves are usually lance-shaped about 7–11 mm (0.28–0.43 in) wide and 12–16 mm (0.47–0.63 in) long, although some leaves, especially the lowest, may be ovate.
The small flowers are about 8 mm (0.31 in) in diameter, have a short stalk, are produced in the leaf axils and are usually blue, but exceptionally they may be red. They have five lanceolate sepals and five petals. The filaments are about 3 mm (0.12 in) long, with showy yellow anthers. The flowering period extends from April to October.[3] The hermaphroditic flowers are pollinated by insects (entomogamy). The fruit is a spherical capsule up to 4 mm (0.16 in) in diameter containing about 15 seeds.[3]
This species should not be confused with the related Anagallis arvensis. In 2007, a molecular phylogenetic study showed that Anagallis foemina is more closely related to Anagallis monelli than to Anagallis arvensis, and should be treated as a separate species.[4]
Anagallis foemina can be distinguished from Anagallis arvensis on the basis of the hairiness and arrangement of the petals and by the length of the flower stalk. In fact this species has just a few glandular hairs on the margin of the petals, clearly separated one from another (never imbricate). Furthermore the flower stalk is shorter (up to 1 cm). The colour of the flowers is not a diagnostic character.[3]
This cosmopolitan plant is native to central and southern Europe and has been introduced in Africa, northern and eastern Asia, North and South America and western Australia.[3]
It grows in scrub, uncultivated soils and grasslands. It prefers dry, nutrient- and lime-rich soils, at an altitude of 0–1,200 metres (0–3,900 ft) above sea level.[3]