Bongardia

Bongardia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Berberidaceae
Genus: Bongardia
C.A.Mey.
Binomial name
Bongardia chrysogonum
Spach 1839 not Boiss.1867
Type species
Bongardia rauwolfii (syn of B. chrysogonum)[1]
C.A.Mey.
Synonyms[2]
  • Bongardia margalla R.R.Stewart ex Qureshi & Chaudhri, name published without description
  • Bongardia olivieri C.A.Mey.
  • Bongardia rauwolfii C.A. Mey.
  • Leontice chrysogonum L.

Bongardia is a group of plants in the Berberidaceae described as a genus in 1831.[1][3] There is only one known species, Bongardia chrysogonum, is native to North Africa, Greece, and the Middle East as far east as Pakistan.[2][4]

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.[5] Leaves and root are edible.[6]

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.[7]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Tropicos, Bongardia C.A. Mey.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Flora of Pakistan, Page 4, Bongardia chrysogonum (Linn.) Spach
  3. Meyer, Carl Anton. 1831. Verzeichniss Pfl. Caucasus 174.
  4. Flowers in Israel
  5. Czech Botany, dřišťálovité, Bongardia chrysogonum (L.) Spach
  6. Bailey, L.H. & E.Z. Bailey. 1976. Hortus Third i–xiv, 1–1290. MacMillan, New York
  7. 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