Alchemilla

Alchemilla
Alchemilla vulgaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Subfamily: Rosoideae
Tribe: Potentilleae
Genus: Alchemilla
L.
Type species
A. vulgaris
Species

See text.

Synonyms

Alchimilla P. Miller, 1754
Lachemilla (Focke) Rydb.
Zygalchemilla Rydb.
Sources: ITIS,[1] GRIN, [2] AFPD,[3] FOC[4]

Illustration of Alchemilla vulgaris from 1917–1926

Alchemilla is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the family Rosaceae, with the common name "lady's mantle" applied generically as well as specifically to Alchemilla mollis. There are about 300 species, the majority native to cool temperate and subarctic regions of Europe and Asia, with a few species native to the mountains of Africa and the Americas.

Most species of Alchemilla are clump-forming or mounded, perennials with basal leaves arising from woody rhizomes. Some species have leaves with lobes that radiate from a common point and others have divided leaves—both are typically fan-shaped with small teeth at the tips. The long-stalked, gray-green to green leaves are often covered with soft hairs, and show a high degree of water-resistance (see Lotus effect). Green to bright chartreuse flowers are small, have no petals and appear in clusters above the foliage in late spring and summer.[5]

Selected species

References

  1. "Alchemilla L.". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  2. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) (2008-03-03). "Genus: Alchemilla L.". Taxonomy for Plants. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program, National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved 2008-05-17.
  3. "Alchemilla L.". African Plants Database. South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica. Retrieved 2008-05-17.
  4. "46. ALCHEMILLA Linnaeus". Flora of China (efloras) 9: 388.
  5. Hawke, Richard G. "An Evaluation Study of Alchemilla". Plant Evaluation Notes. Chicago Botanic Garden. Retrieved 2008-05-17.

External links

Media related to Alchemilla at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Alchemilla at Wikispecies