Cosmos atrosanguineus

Chocolate Kosmee

The Chocolate Kosmee (Cosmos atrosanguineus ) is a plant from the sunflower family ( Asteraceae).

Description

The Chocolate Kosmee is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches the plant height of 40 to 60 centimeters. The flowering period extends from July to September. In the basket- shaped inflorescences, there are tongue and tubular flowers.

The plants derived from a single clone world, which is reproduced by vegetative propagation. Since they are self- sterile, the plant can not produce fertile seeds, but reproduce by fleshy tubers or vegetable tissue culture. To ensure the preservation of the species, the formation of tissues of the plant at Kew Gardens is preserved in liquid nitrogen.

Terms and naming

Her scent, reminiscent of dark chocolate, unfolds in warm summer weather in the late afternoon hours. It is sometimes referred to as chocolate flower, but differs from the real chocolate flower ( Berlandiera lyrata ) mainly by their flower color, which varies from a dark purple shade of brown to dark red. More German trivial name for Cosmos atrosanguineus are black Kosmee, fragrances Chocolate flower or, like all species of the genus, Kosmee and Cosmos.

History

The home of Kosmee is Mexico, but the exact origin is not known. Scientists believe that these plant species from Zimapán, Hidalgo comes.

The Kosmee was initially the two teeth ( Bidens ) assigned and described ex rule for the first time in 1861 by Charles Edward Ortgies as Bidens atrosanguineus ( Hook. ) Ortgies. William Jackson Hooker she put 1894 in the new genus Cosmos Cosmos as diversifolius var atrosanguineus Hook. ( Basionym ).

1835 was William Thompson ( 1823-1903 ), founder of the seed company Thompson and Morgan seeds from Mexico and began to multiply in his nursery in Ipswich in the UK. He left Joseph Hooker at Kew Gardens some seeds. In the wild, the plant is considered to be extinct since 1902, it is cultivated only as ornamental plants. All plants come from cuttings from Kew Gardens. 2010 have been discovered in New Zealand fertile specimens of this plant, which make it possible to breed hybrids and new varieties.

Care

The Chocolate Kosmee needed sunny locations. The tuber is sensitive to frost, it must be taken in the fall out of the ground and stored in a cool. The following spring, they can be planted again. Propagation is through root cuttings.