Hesperis matronalis

Ordinary dame's violet ( Hesperis matronalis )

Called The Ordinary dame's violet ( Hesperis matronalis ), also Common dame's violet, red dame's violet or Matronenblume, a species of the genus is the Nachtviolen ( Hesperis ) from the family of cruciferous plants ( Brassicaceae). The name component "Night " is because the flowers smell in the evening most intense.

Description

The Ordinary dame's violet is a biennial or perennial, herbaceous plant that reaches the stature heights between 40 and 100 centimeters. The root is spindle-shaped and often mehrköpfig. The stem is erect, sometimes simple but often branched and almost bald or rauhaarig. If he is hairy, the hairs are primarily stalked - twin engine. The numerous leaves are basal and ovate to lanceolate, acute to long acuminate and toothed to almost entire, simply hairy rough or almost bald. The petioles are shorter back from the plant base to the tip.

The species flowers from April to July, several clusters of flowers without bracts, which reach a diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 cm. The four sepals are oblong purple with a greenish tip, the four petals are 18-25 mm long with a narrow, long nail and wrong - egg-shaped plate. The anthers are 3 to 3.5 mm long, the stylus 1 to 4 mm long. The scar bears two erect, contiguous lobes. The flowers are fragrant in the evening and at night very strong, but pleasant. The seeds mature in 40 to 100 mm long and 1.5 to 2 mm wide pods. The flaps have central and lateral nerves. Row and the seeds are about 3 mm long.

Dissemination

The species is found in Europe and Central and Southwest Asia. You lack in the lowlands almost everywhere and also area, in higher upland areas, as well as in the low mountain ranges with a low lime rocks. In the Alps, the range extends to 800 m above sea level. NN. In the 16th century the species was introduced to North America, is recognized as a neophyte.

The Ordinary dame's violet needs nutrient- rich, slightly moist, loose, stony, sandy loam soil and humus. The species is found mainly in river and stream valleys in lowland forests and thickets -. But you also lives in Ruderalfluren. The species tolerates shade well.

System

Hesperis matronalis was first published in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum.

The species is along with Hesperis sylvestris to collective species Hesperis matronalis agg. summarized. Next to the nominotypischen taxon Hesperis matronalis Furthermore, there subsp. matronalis nor the other subspecies:

• Hesperis matronalis subsp. cladotricha ( Borb. ) Hayek; it occurs on the Balkan Peninsula and in Romania
• Hesperis matronalis subsp. nivea ( Baumg. ) Kulcz. ( Syn: H. matronalis subsp candida ( Kit. ) Hegi and E. Schmid. ); it comes into Europe from Spain to Romania before, but avoids the north and south
• Hesperis matronalis subsp. schurii Soó; it occurs in the Eastern Carpathians
• Hesperis matronalis subsp. voronovii ( N. Busch) P.W. ball; it occurs in the Crimea, Turkey and Georgia.

Sometimes it is also a feral form of cultural hybrids Hesperis matronalis 'Alba' found.

Ecology

The Ordinary dame's violet is a two - or short-lived perennial plant stem, the sharp taste of mustard oils.

The flowers are homo game to vormännliche " stem plate flowers ' nectar glands on the inside of the stamen base. The nectar is difficult to access. Only in the evening smell the flowers of violets. The flowers are pollinated by insects, especially by moths. Although the scar is dusting inward opening dust bag, is performed regularly cross-pollination, also by hoverflies, bees and butterflies. Bloom time is from April to July.

The fruits are pods that are active in animal - and wind spreader. Your seeds are dispersed by flowing water. Human spread of the kind carried out as Gartenflüchter.

Importantly, the type is known as a food plant for caterpillars of various butterflies, such as the Orange Tip ( Anthocharis cardamines ) and the cabbage white (Pieris rapae ), but also various veils and half moths, especially Plutella porrectella.

Toxicity

The Ordinary dame's violet is toxic in all parts, but especially the seeds. Your danger level is, however, considered to be low.

Main ingredients are cardenolide glycosides and mustard oil glycosides.

Used sparingly, however, some parts of the plant can be eaten.

Culture

The Ordinary dame's violet is particularly because of their odor ( similar to that of wallflowers ) cultivated in gardens and is often found in seed mixtures again, since the species can be easily propagated. This has strongly encourages the spread in the United States. Various hybrids were crossed, especially a white expression Hesperis matronalis 'Alba'.

The seeds of the ordinary dame's violet have a pungent flavor similar to watercress. Clusius recommends against cough or other chest diseases. In addition, the plant has diaphoretic.