Campanula glomerata


Campanula glomerata, known by the common names clustered bellflower or Dane's blood, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Campanula, belonging to the family Campanulaceae. It is the County flowers of [the United Kingdom|county flower] of Rutland, England.

Etymology

The genus Latin name, meaning small bell, refers to the bell-shape of the flower, while the specific name refers to the tight grouping of the flowers at the top of the stem.

Description

Campanula glomerata is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to a height of, with a maximum of. The stem is simple, erect and shortly pubescent, basal leaves are petiolated, oval-lanceolate and lightly heart-shaped, while cauline leaves are lanceolate, sessile and amplexicaul. The inflorescence is formed by 15-20 sessile, actinomorphic and hermaphrodite single flowers of about 2 to 3 cm. They are in terminal racemes or in the axils of upper leaves, surrounded by an involucre of bracts. The corolla is campanulate and pubescent with five dark violet-blue or purplish-blue petals. Flowering period is from June to September.

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to the North Temperate Zone of Eurasia, from Britain to Japan. In Europe it is present almost everywhere except the extreme north. In North America the plant is naturalized.
This plant can be found in forests or dry grasslands, in scrub and open woodland, in grassy but not too wet places, in the edges of woods and along the margins of roads and trails. It prefers calcareous soils, at an altitude up to above sea level.

Subspecies

According to WCSP, 15 subspecies are recognized:
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. glomerata - Europe to NW. China
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. cervicarioides Arcang. - S. Europe
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. serotina O.Schwarz - S. Alps
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. farinosa Kirschl. - Alps to E. Europe to Kazakhstan
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. elliptica Kirschl. - Carpathians to C. Italy and Serbia
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. subcapitata Fed. - E. Carpathians
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. hispida Hayek - N. Balkan Pen. to Iran
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. caucasica Ogan. - NE. Turkey to Caucasus
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. oblongifolia Fed. - E. Turkey to NE. Iran
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. oblongifolioides Ogan. - Caucasus
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. symphytifolia Ogan. - W. Transcaucasus
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. panjutinii Victorov - W. Transcaucasus
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. krylovii Olonova - W. Siberia
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. daqingshanica D.Y.Hong & Y.Z.Zhao - Inner Mongolia
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. speciosa Domin - S. Siberia to Japan

Cultivation

The plant is widely cultivated in gardens, with flowers in a range of colours including white, pink, blue and purple. Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, including 'Joan Elliott' and the white-flowered 'Schneekrone'. The vigorous cultivar 'Superba', growing to, with rich blue flowers, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The pale purple cluster-flowered 'Caroline' has also won the award.

Synonyms

  • Campanula aggregata Willd. ex Schlecht.
  • Campanula cervicarioides Schultes in Roemer & Schultes
  • Campanula congesta Schultes in Roemer & Schultes
  • Campanula farinosa Andrz. in Besser
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. aggregata Kirschleger
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. cephalotes D.Y.Hong
  • Campanula glomerata subsp. congesta Schubler & Martens
  • Campanula glomerata var. aggregata Koch
  • Campanula glomerata var. congesta Rouy
  • Campanula glomerata var. dahurica Fisch. ex Ker-Gawl.
  • Campanula glomerata var. farinosa Koch
  • Campanula glaucophylla Schlosser & Vukot.
  • Campanula speciosa Hornem.