Meconopsis lancifolia
| Meconopsis lancifolia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Papaveraceae |
| Genus: | Meconopsis |
| Species: | M. lancifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Meconopsis lancifolia | |
Meconopsis lancifolia[1][2][3] is a plant species in the genus Meconopsis, in the family Papaveraceae. M. lancifolia is monocarpic, meaning that it flowers only once before dying.[2]
Description
Height: Though often only 8–20cm high at maturity, some plants may reach 35cm while flowering, and up to 42cm tall while fruiting.[2]
Stems: Erect stem 3.7–25cm long, 5-13mm in diameter near the base. Ascending to patent-reflexed, tawny-coloured, soft bristles typically cover the stems, sometimes densely, though occasionally stems may be more or less glabrous.[2]
Leaves: Entire to slightly sinuate[2] or pinnately lobed[3] leaves are borne in a basal rosette,[2][3] have a variable number of bristles,[3] and are green or greyish-greey above and are a paler, somewhat glaucous colour beneath, and measure between 2–16-[2]25[3]cm in length, and 0.5-2.2cm in width, tapering gradually at the base. Lamina are elliptic-lanceolate to elliptic-oblanceolate, narrow-oblanceolate, or more rarely linear-lanceolate. Petioles are 1.5–9cm in length.[2]
Flowers: 2.6-8.2cm across, with 4-[2][3]8-[3]11[2] satiny deep-blue[2] to violet,[3] to indigo-purple,[2][3] more rarely pinkish,[2] or very rarely light blue[3] petals. Petals measure 13-32mm x 10-32mm. Flowers June-early August.
Flowers are typically significantly darker than those of Meconopsis grandis or Meconopsis horridula.[3]
Fruit: oblong-ellipsoid to subcylindric green capsules with purple ribs ripening to brown.[2]
Cultivation
M. lancifolia does not appear to have ever been in cultivation, despite substantial efforts by Forrest. Taylor considered that the generally weak characteristics of the bulbous root implied that it was a difficult plant. However, as it is so widespread, it is genetically quite variable, and so perhaps some forms are more adaptable than others. The standard well-fed, winter dry, summer wet may require some modification for success, with less emphasis on the summer wet.[3]
Habitat
In the wild, it is particularly associated with limestone habitats,[3] including stony alpine meadows, rocky slopes, screes, moraines,[2][3] stony and rocky pastures, open low moorland scrub, and alpine moorland.[2] Likes less sunny exposures.[3]
Distribution
Widespread across China,[3] specifically in western China, from southwest Gansu to northwest Yunnan, east and southeast Tibet, western Sichuan; the Cangshan, Yulongxueshan, and the mountains of the Mekong-Salween and Mekong-Yangtse divides.[2]
Also native to north Myanmar.[2]
Etymology
Mekon from the Greek for 'poppy', opsis 'like'– Meconopsis 'poppy-like'. Lancifolia, 'with sharply pointed leaves'.[4]
References
- ↑ The Plant List http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=meconopsis+lancifolia
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Grey-Wilson, Christopher 2014 "The Genus Meconopsis: Blue Poppies and Their Relatives". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 9781842463697, pp 318-319
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Cobb, James L. S., "Meconopsis". copyright 1989 James L. S. Cobb and Timber Press. ISBN 0747004277, pp 70-71
- ↑ Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN 9780521685535 (paperback). pp 229, 253