Canarina canariensis

Canarina canariensis
Canarina canariensis
Canary Island Bellflower
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Canarina
Species: C. canariensis
Binomial name
Canarina canariensis

Canarina canariensis is a glabrous, glaucous, scrambling perennial herb in the bellflower family Campanulaceae, commonly known as the Canary bellflower, and known locally as Bicácaro.

Description

The leaves are opposite, petiolate, triangular or hastate with dentate margins. Latex is present. There are no stipules. Flowers are axillary, solitary, bell-shaped, 3–6 cm long, orange (darkening when dried). It has a thick tuberous root, from which hollow, scrambling stems about 3 m are produced each year. The fruit is a large ovate, fleshy berry, orange when ripe, and edible.[1] The species is bird pollinated by passerine species such as the chiffchaff.[2]

Distribution

Canarina canariensis is endemic to the Canary Islands. Tenerife: Frequent in laurel forests and forest margins, Anaga region, north coast from Orotava to Los Silos 300–1000 m, local in the south of the island. Gran Canaria: Los Tiles de Moya, frequent in the laurel woods, very depleded in other localities near San Mateo, Santa Brigida, Pino Santo, Teror etc. La Palma: Mazo, Los Tilos, Barranco Nogales etc., open areas in laurel forests or forest relicts. La Gomera: Rare in the forest regions. El Hierro: Frontera, las Playas etc.[3]

Cultivation

This species is valued in cultivation for its scrambling habit and attractive deep orange bell flowers. As it does not tolerate temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F), in temperate regions it must be grown under glass. It can be expected to reach 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height. In cultivation in the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Thomas Scott (1996). ABC Biologie. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 207–. ISBN 978-3-11-010661-9. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Ollerton, J.; Cranmer, L.; Stelzer, R.J.; Sullivan, S.; Chittka, L. (2009). "Bird pollination of Canary Island endemic plants" (Submitted manuscript). Naturwissenschaften. 96 (2): 221–232. Bibcode:2009NW.....96..221O. doi:10.1007/s00114-008-0467-8. PMID 18931830.
  3. ↑ Bramwell, D.; Bramwell, Z. (2001). Wild flowers of the Canary Islands. Madrid, Spain: Editorial Rueda. ISBN 978-84-7207-129-2.
  4. ↑ "RHS Plantfinder - Canarina canariensis". Retrieved 12 January 2018.


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