| Meconopsis lancifolia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Papaveraceae |
| Genus: | Meconopsis |
| Species: | M. lancifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Meconopsis lancifolia (Franch.) Franch. ex Prain | |
Meconopsis lancifolia[1][2][3][4] 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 8–20 cm high at maturity, some plants may reach 35 cm while flowering, and up to 42 cm tall while fruiting.[2]
Stems: Erect stem 3.7–25 cm long, 5–13 mm 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] are green or greyish-green above and are a paler, somewhat glaucous colour beneath, and measure between 2–16-[2] 25[3] cm in length, and 0.5-2.2 cm in width, tapering gradually at the base. Leaves are sparsely bristly[4] or have a variable number of bristles;[3] bristles are not dark at the base.[4] Lamina are elliptic-lanceolate to elliptic-oblanceolate, narrow-oblanceolate, or more rarely linear-lanceolate. Petioles are 1.5–9 cm in length.[2]
Flowers: 2.6–8.2 cm 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 13–32 mm x 10–32 mm. 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
Meconopsis lancifolia does not appear to have ever been in cultivation,[3] or is rare in cultivation[4] 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] Prefers 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-Yangtze divides.[2]
Etymology
Meconopsis is derived from the Greek for 'poppy-like' (μήκον mēkon, ‘poppy’; ὄψις ópsis, ‘aspect’), while lancifolia is from the Latin for 'with sharply pointed leaves' (lancea ‘poppy’; folia ‘leaves’).[5]
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 17 Cobb, James L. S., "Meconopsis". copyright 1989 James L. S. Cobb and Timber Press. ISBN 0747004277, pp 70-71
- 1 2 3 4 Grey-Wilson, Christopher, "Poppies: The Poppy Family in the Wild and in Cultivation". Copyright Christopher Grey-Wilson 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2005. Published by B T Batsford of the Chrysalis Books Group. ISBN 0713489278, pp 157
- ↑ Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN 9780521685535 (paperback). pp 229, 253