Triodanis perfoliata
- Scientific Name: Triodanis perfoliata
- Family: Campanulaceae
- Common Names: Venus' looking glass, clasping bellwort
- Previous names and misapplications: Specularia perfoliata
Contents
Taxonomy
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Subkingdom: | Viridiplantae |
| Phylum: | Tracheophyta |
| Subphylum: | Spermatophytina |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Subclass: | Asteranae |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Campanulaceae |
| Genus: | Triodanis Raf ex. Greene |
| Species: | Triodanis perfoliata (L.) Nieuwl. |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
Annual herb growing from taproot[2] with axillary purple flowers, to 60 cm tall.[3] Stems erect, usually simple or sometimes branched, hairy.[4] Leaves cauline, alternate, clasping, cordate to rotund, 0.5-3 cm long, lowest leaves narrow and short-petiolate.[4] Flowers axillary on upper stem with 1 to several in each axil,[3] radially symmetrical; calyx, corolla and androecium inserted on hypanthium; sepals 5, narrowly triangular, sometimes connate at base; corolla 5-lobed, rotate,[2] 8-13 mm long;[4] stamens 5;[3] pistil 3-carpellate,[5] with 1 to 3-lobed style, inferior ovary becoming an elliptic to oblong capsule, dehiscent by distal pore.[2]
Bloom Period
April - June[3]
Distribution
Southern British Columbia to California; mainly west of the Cascade crest in Washington, both sides of Cascades in Oregon and California.[2]
Habitat
Common weed species growing in waste places, disturbed sites, pastures, prairies, and roadsides [6]. Dry woods and open sites (Justice and Bell, 1968). Dry to moderately dry soils [7].
Uses
Site Rehabilitation
Useful for attracting pollinating insects. Fibrous roots have the capacity to stabilize disturbed soils [8] [9]
Wildlife
Attracts mega-chilid bee, sphecid wasps, leatherwing beetles [10]
Landscaping
Annual species but possible to mass in beds for pleasing purple colour.
First Nations
Liquid compound of root taken for dyspepsia from overeating; Infusion of roots taken and used as a bath for dyspepsia; Use as an emetic.[11]
Propagation
Seed Propagation
- Seed collection time: June-August
- Crop intervals: Annual
Fruit and Seed Collection and Extraction
Collect capsules by hand into collection bags. Allow to dry, and then shake collection bags to release seeds.
Fruit/Seed Dormancy and Treatment
Sow seeds outdoors in flats or containers in late summer or early fall and allow dormancy to be broken naturally.
Outplanting Characteristics and Requirements
Plant in full sun to partial shade in coarse-textured, free-draining soils.
Photo Gallery
Courtesy of CNLM
T. perfoliata seedling courtesy of CNLM
2004 Rod Gilbert
T. perfoliata seeds. Photo Lisa Hintz
References
- ↑ Interagency Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved from https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=34615#null
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Hitchcock, C. L., Cronquist, A., Giblin, D., & Legler, B. et al. (2018). Flora of the Pacific Northwest: an illustrated manual. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 517.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 WTU Herbarium, Burke Museum, & University of Washington. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Triodanis%20perfoliata
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia. Retrieved from https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Triodanis%20perfoliata
- ↑ Zomlefer, W. (1994). Guide to Flowering Plant Families. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press. p. 211.
- ↑ Seyermark, 1963
- ↑ Douglas et al, 2002
- ↑ USDA, 2002
- ↑ Haddock, 2000
- ↑ Gara and Meunhow, 1990
- ↑ Native American Ethnobotany Database. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=triodanis
