Daphne sericea
| Daphne sericea | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Thymelaeaceae |
| Genus: | Daphne |
| Species: | D. sericea
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| Binomial name | |
| Daphne sericea | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Daphne sericea is a shrubby species of flowering plant in the genus Daphne with purple flowers. It was described by Martin Vahl.[1] Daphne collina has been treated as a separate species, but is considered to be a cultivar or group of cultivars of D. sericea.
Description
[edit]Daphne sericea usually grows as a shrub to a height of 30 to 40 cm, but can sometimes grow taller. Its leaves are 2 to 4 cm in length. Fragrant purple flowers are produced in late spring to early summer in clusters of 5 to 15. Each flower is around 8 mm long. Fertilized flowers produce fleshy fruits, orange-red to orange-brown in colour.[2] Forms from southern Italy have been called Daphne collina,[2] Daphne sericea 'Collina'[3] and Daphne sericea Collina Group.[4] They are more compact than forms from other parts of the species' range, but otherwise similar.[2]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Daphne sericea is found in southern Italy, Sicily, Crete, Syria and the Caucasus. It typically grows on rocky slopes and in open pinewoods, at elevations up to 1800 m.[2]
Subspecies
[edit]Three subspecies are recognized:[1][3]
- Daphne sericea subsp. sericea – includes D. sericea 'Collina'; up to 1 m tall; found around the Mediterranean
- Daphne sericea subsp. circassica (Woronow ex Pobed.) Halda – shorter, with a longer flower tube; from the west Caucasus
- Daphne sericea subsp. pseudosericea (Pobed.) Halda – similar to subsp. circassica, but with larger flowers and less visible anthers; from the west Transcaucasus
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Daphne sericea". The Plant List. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d Beckett, K., ed. (1993). "Daphne". Encyclopaedia of Alpines : Volume 1 (A–K). Pershore, UK: AGS Publications. pp. 371–376. ISBN 978-0-900048-61-6. See Daphne collina and Daphne sericea.
- ^ a b "Daphne sericea/'Collina'". Daphne – Seidelbast. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ "Daphne sericea Collina Group". Plants. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 27 November 2017.