Wigandia

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Read about Wigandia in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Wigandia (named after Johannes Wigand, Pomeranian bishop; wrote on plants; 1523-1587). Hydrophyllaceae. Tall hispid perennial herbs or subshrubs, used for subtropical bedding, or may be grown in the greenhouse. Leaves alternate, large, rugose, doubly dentate, cymes terminal, large, dichotomous: fls. sessile, 1-sided along the branch; calyx-segms. linear; corolla-tube shortly and broadly campanulate, scaled inside; limb broad, spreading, 5-lobed, lobes imbricate; stamens 5; ovary rather perfectly 2-celled: caps. 2-valved. —About 3 or 4 species, widely dispersed in the mountains of Trop. Amer. Monographed by A. Brand in Engler's Pflanzenreich hft. 59 (IV. 251). The species of Wigandia are very much confused in current reference books, as well as in the trade. The following account is based on Andre’s revision of the genus in R.H. 1861: 371, with an important change in the name of one species. In respect to W. urens, Andre follows the previous revision by Choisy in DC. Prod. 10:184. The combination Wigandia urens was first used by Kunth, who applied it to a Mexican plant. Before this, however, another plant of the same family but a native of Peru had been called Hydrolea urens. When Choisy came to monograph the whole family he transferred Hydrolea urens to the genus Wigandia and called it Wigandia urens, Choisy. He therefore had to rename the Mexican plant, and this he called Wigandia Kunthii. Wigandias are chiefly valued as foliage plants for subtropical bedding, because of their very showy character. Their leaves are covered with stinging hairs, similar to nettles. Many large specimens may be seen in California, but the plants are considered to be rather coarse and straggling. They are generally raised from seed every year, the seed being started indoors as early as January. The plants attain a height of 6 to 10 feet in a single season. They are unsatisfactory greenhouse plants, as they do not grow vigorously indoors. The roots may be kept over winter in a frostless place and stock may be secured in spring by cuttings. In general, the plants are not much used in North America. W. imperialis is listed as a very ornamental plant, but is not treated by Brand. — W. Vigieri, Carr., is not treated in Brand's monograph and is apparently a horticultural form, perhaps of W. caracasana. Carriere merely said it was a silvery plant instead of somber and glutinous like W. caracasana. It is frequently listed in the trade and is said to have lilac-blue or wine-colored fls. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

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