Vestia foetida

Vestia foetida
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Vestia
Willd.
Species: V. foetida
Binomial name
Vestia foetida
Hoffmanns.[1]

Vestia is a monotypic genus[2] of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae containing the single species Vestia foetida (syn. V. lycioides). Its common name is Chilean box thorn. It is native to Chile. Growing to 2 m (7 ft) tall by 1.5 m (5 ft) broad, it is an evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves. In spring and summer it bears tubular yellow flowers to 3 cm (1 in) long with prominent stamens.[3]

The specific epithet foetida refers to the unpleasant smell of this plant.[4]

Although frost-hardy, the plant requires some protection from winter winds.[3] It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5]

References

  1. "International Plant Names Index (IPNI) - Vestia foetida". Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  2. Las Penas, M. L., et al. (2006). Karyotypes of some species of Cestrum, Sessea, and Vestia (tribe Cestreae, Solanaceae). Caryologia 59(2) 131-37.
  3. 3.0 3.1 RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
  4. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  5. Vestia foetida. Royal Horticultural Society.