Hesperis

Ordinary dame's violet ( Hesperis matronalis )

The Nachtviolen ( Hesperis ) constitute a genus in the family of cruciferous plants ( Brassicaceae).

Description

Species of the genus Nachtviolen are annual or perennial herbaceous plants. The stems are simple or branched. The leaves are ovate, lyre-shaped or oval serrated. The flowers grow in simple or compound umbels. You have four wrong curved petals and a closed cup. Glands sit between the two filaments. The scar is forked at the base, but united again towards the top. The seeds ripen in cylindrical, zweifächerigen, bivalve pods.

Dissemination

Nachtviolen are spread all over Eurasia. Some species but are also found in North America.

System

Carl Linnaeus introduced in 1753 six species in the genus of Nachtviolen. In the meantime, more than 25 species were counted in the genus, but which were now downgraded to part to subspecies or were aggregated into collective species.

The species (selection):

  • Ordinary dame's violet and red dame's violet, Matronenblume ( Hesperis matronalis L.); with the subspecies: Hesperis matronalis subsp. cladotricha ( Borb. ) Hayek;
  • Hesperis matronalis subsp. matronalis
  • Hesperis matronalis subsp. schurii Soó
  • Hesperis matronalis subsp. voronovii ( N. Busch) P. W. Ball

Etymology

Hesperis comes from the ancient Greek Hespera ( = night ) after the evening and at night very fragrant flowers of particular Hesperis matronalis.

Stigma (botany)
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