Bongardia
Bongardia | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
Order: | Ranunculales |
Family: | Berberidaceae |
Genus: | Bongardia |
Species | |
See text | |
Bongardia is a monotypic genus in the berberry family native to North Africa to Greece, Central Asia and Middle Eastern areas. It is a tuberous, herbaceous plant with a large rounded tuber and attractive pinnate leaves. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). This rare and striking plant is native to rocky, montane slopes and cultivated fields where summers are dry and winters are spent under snow. It is named for Gustav Heinrich von Bongard (1786–1839), a German botanist, professor at St. Petersburg Imperial University. Leaves and root are edible.
Cultivation
The plants grow well in sandy well-drained soil in full sun. A porous soil and year-round protection from excessive wet are needed, drought can be tolerated. It requires hot dry conditions in summer. Propagate from seed.
Species
- Bongardia chrysogonum syn Bongardia rauwolfia (Lady's Nightcap)
References
- Lord, Tony (2003) Flora: the Gardener's Bible; more than 20,000 garden plants from around the world. London: Cassell ISBN 0-304-36435-5
- Botanica Sistematica