7,617
edits
Changes
From Gardenology.org - Plant Encyclopedia and Gardening Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to searchno edit summary
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Love-in-a-mist
| image = Nigella damascena-white2.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''A white Nigella damascena''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ranunculales]]
| familia = [[Ranunculaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Nigella]]''
| species = '''''N. damascena'''''
| binomial = ''Nigella damascena''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
[[Image:Nigella arvensis fruit.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Capsule]]
'''''Nigella damascena''''' ('''Love-in-a-mist''') is an [[Annual plant|annual]] garden [[flowering plant]], belonging to the buttercup family ([[Ranunculaceae]]).
It is native to southern [[Europe]] (but adventive in more northern countries of Europe), north [[Africa]] and southwest [[Asia]]. It is also commonly grown in gardens in North America. It is found on neglected, damp patches of land.
The plant's common name comes from the flower being nestled in a ring of multifid, lacy [[bract]]s. It's also sometimes called Devil in the Bush.
It grows to 20-50 cm tall, with pinnately divided, thread-like, alternate [[leaf|leaves]].
The [[flower]]s are white, pink, pale blue or pale purple, with 5-10 [[sepal]]s. The actual [[petal]]s are located at the base of the stamens and are minute and clawed. The sepals are the only colored part of the [[perianth]]. The 4-5 [[carpel]]s of the compound [[pistil]] have each an erect [[carpel|style]]. The flowers blossom in May and June.
The [[fruit]] is a large and inflated [[Capsule (fruit)|capsule]], growing from a compound [[ovary (plants)|ovary]], and is composed of several united follicles, each containing numerous [[seed]]s. This is rather exceptional for a member of the buttercup family. The capsule becomes brown in late summer.
They are much used in dried flower bouquets.
[[Image:Nigella damascena01.jpg|thumb|right|200px|habit]]
There are several [[cultivar]]s available with flowers in shades of pink and purple, including 'Albion', 'Blue Midget', 'Cambridge Blue', 'Miss Jekyll', 'Mulberry Rose', 'Oxford Blue' and 'Persian Jewels'.
===Related Species===
The related ''[[Nigella sativa]]'' (and not ''N. damascena'') is the source of the spice variously known as Nigella, Kalonji or Black Cumin.
== External links ==
{{Commons|Nigella damascena}}
{{Wikispecies|Nigella damascena}}
[[Category:Ranunculaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Garden plants]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
{{Link FA|de}}
| color = lightgreen
| name = Love-in-a-mist
| image = Nigella damascena-white2.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''A white Nigella damascena''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ranunculales]]
| familia = [[Ranunculaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Nigella]]''
| species = '''''N. damascena'''''
| binomial = ''Nigella damascena''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
[[Image:Nigella arvensis fruit.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Capsule]]
'''''Nigella damascena''''' ('''Love-in-a-mist''') is an [[Annual plant|annual]] garden [[flowering plant]], belonging to the buttercup family ([[Ranunculaceae]]).
It is native to southern [[Europe]] (but adventive in more northern countries of Europe), north [[Africa]] and southwest [[Asia]]. It is also commonly grown in gardens in North America. It is found on neglected, damp patches of land.
The plant's common name comes from the flower being nestled in a ring of multifid, lacy [[bract]]s. It's also sometimes called Devil in the Bush.
It grows to 20-50 cm tall, with pinnately divided, thread-like, alternate [[leaf|leaves]].
The [[flower]]s are white, pink, pale blue or pale purple, with 5-10 [[sepal]]s. The actual [[petal]]s are located at the base of the stamens and are minute and clawed. The sepals are the only colored part of the [[perianth]]. The 4-5 [[carpel]]s of the compound [[pistil]] have each an erect [[carpel|style]]. The flowers blossom in May and June.
The [[fruit]] is a large and inflated [[Capsule (fruit)|capsule]], growing from a compound [[ovary (plants)|ovary]], and is composed of several united follicles, each containing numerous [[seed]]s. This is rather exceptional for a member of the buttercup family. The capsule becomes brown in late summer.
They are much used in dried flower bouquets.
[[Image:Nigella damascena01.jpg|thumb|right|200px|habit]]
There are several [[cultivar]]s available with flowers in shades of pink and purple, including 'Albion', 'Blue Midget', 'Cambridge Blue', 'Miss Jekyll', 'Mulberry Rose', 'Oxford Blue' and 'Persian Jewels'.
===Related Species===
The related ''[[Nigella sativa]]'' (and not ''N. damascena'') is the source of the spice variously known as Nigella, Kalonji or Black Cumin.
== External links ==
{{Commons|Nigella damascena}}
{{Wikispecies|Nigella damascena}}
[[Category:Ranunculaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Garden plants]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
{{Link FA|de}}
