Gazania

Gazania rigens var rigens Gaertn.

The Gazania ( Gazania ), also known as Gazania, Gazania flowers and Sonnentaler, are a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family ( Asteraceae). They belong within the Aster family to the subfamily of Cichorioideae.

It is one of the many genera whose species are called Mesembryanthemum. The botanical name Gazania Theodorus Gaza (1400-1475) is honored, who translated the botanical works of Theophrastus from Greek into Latin. Also, another explanation for the name, you can find: Greek gaza for rich ( for the richness of colors in this genre ).

There are many varieties, these are hybrids ( Gazania hybrids) of several species ( eg G. rigens, G. longiscapa, G. nivea ), which are planted worldwide as ornamental plants in parks and gardens.

Description

Gazania is an annual or perennial herbaceous plants, rarely subshrubs, which usually remain low and rarely reach heights of growth over 30 inches. Few species lead milky sap. Most leaves are basal only formed. The lower leaf surface is usually woolly, white hairy.

The bloom conditions are usually solitary on long stalks and contain florets and ray florets. The zygomorphen tubular flowers have five petals, which are fused into a tube. The ray florets have colors from white through cream and orange to red and maroon. The tongue has five corolla lobes, what can clearly be seen that the corolla tube is formed from five petals. The name of the genus Mesembryanthemum bears because their flowers, just like any other plant species that carry these German names, open at noon; strictly speaking they are only fully open when the sun shines on it.

The fruits are achenes without ribs, with a pappus, consisting of two rows of scales and hair.

The chromosome number is 2n = 18

Dissemination

The species are important elements of the Flore capensis. The areas are limited to South Africa, Namibia and tropical areas of East Africa. From parks and gardens, some species and varieties have spread as invasive plants, especially in subtropical areas, for eg in Australia and California.

System

There are about 20 (16 to 40) species in the genus Gazania; Here is a selection:

  • Gazania Heterochaeta DC.
  • Cancer Gazanie (. Gazania krebsiana Less ( Syn: Gazania pavonia, Gazania arctotoides Less, Gazania serrulata DC).. )
  • Borstenschuppige Gazania ( Gazania linearis ( Thunberg ) Druce ( Syn: Gorteria linearis Thunb ). )
  • Gazania longiscapa DC.
  • Gazania nivea DC.
  • Gazania pinnata Less.
  • Gazania uniflora

Groups of varieties

There are some groups of varieties, each with a large color range of varieties (selection).

  • ' Fiesta'
  • ' Sun'
  • ' Talent '
  • ' Mini Star'

Use

Gazania hybrids are pulled in many varieties usually as an annual bedding and balcony plants. Many varieties are grown from seeds, but there are also varieties that are propagated by cuttings.

Swell

  • Theodore M. Barkley, Luc Brouillet, John L. Strother: Asteraceae Flora of North America, 2006, Volume 19, page 196: Gazania - Online. (English )
Namaqualand Pappus (flower structure) Range (biology)
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