Trientalis europaea
Seven Star ( Trientalis europaea)
The seven-pointed star ( Trientalis europaea ) is a species that to the subfamily of Myrsinengewächse ( Myrsinoideae ) belongs to the family of Primrose ( Primulaceae ). It is also called European Seven Star. Its name derives from the white flowers with seven petals. There are plants that are widespread in the northern hemisphere and occur on base poor, acid soils.
- 4.1 Notes and references
Description
The seven-pointed star is a perennial, herbaceous plant. He survived the winter with a small tuber, from the casts of 10 to 25 cm high stems. This bears a whorl, and one or two flowers. Its chromosome number is 2n = about 160
Rhizome, tuber, root
The rhizome of the seven-pointed star is white and thin, it measures 0.6 to 1.5 mm in diameter and reaches five to 7.5 centimeters in length. It grows usually unbranched horizontally about 2 to 5 centimeters below the surface, at intervals it is occupied with scale-like leaves down.
At its end result is a small, oblong tuber, which is an inch long and 0.3 to 0.4 inches wide. This tuber, the plant survived the winter, the hook-shaped upward curved renewal bud sits on the side facing away from the rhizome. The connection between the individual tubers passes very quickly, so that independent Ramets arise. From each tuber one to five rhizomes can arise again.
The roots do not arise from the rhizome, but only from the tuber. They are often unbranched, but can be branched single or double, these branches bear root hairs. The root system is located in the raw humus and extends up to 15 inches deep. Occasionally arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were found in the roots, but not everywhere and not with great intensity.
Stem and leaf
From each tuber arises from a single, 10 to 25 inches long stems carrying a leaf whorl and the flowers. On rung below the Blattquirls alternate, up to six smaller leaves; but these can also be entirely absent. The leaves are simple, obovate to lanceolate, cuneate at the base and without petiole. The leaf margin is smooth, sometimes finely serrated at the front of the sheet. The color of the leaves is a shiny green. They are five to eight (rarely three to ten ) in a whorl at the end of the stem below the flower together. The dimensions of the blades vary in the length of 1-9 cm, width of 0.5 to 1.5 centimeter; are often found on a plant different sized leaves.
Occasionally, the stems branched just below the earth's surface and forms a further, smaller stem with leaves, which does not come often to blossom. More rarely occur in the branches above ground area of the stem. Such branches may also behave rhizome, growing back into the soil and form a tuber.
Flower and Fruit
From one to two ( rarely up to four) leaf axils arises from a filamentary, to 7 centimeters long flower stalk. The single flower at its end measures 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter, it is white or slightly pink. The flowers are usually siebenzählig, rarely experience the flower parts to fifth to ninth on. The sepals are linear, the petals pointed oval. The stamens are shorter than the petals. The ovary is upper constant and composed of usually five carpels.
The 0.6 -centimeter fruit capsule opens five-piece and dismisses about six to eight seeds.
Life cycle
The Rising of the stem from the tuber in spring. The flowering period extends from May to July, at the same time grow underground from the tuber of the rhizomes. The flowers are pollinated by various insects, including self-pollination is possible. By the fall of above ground the seeds ripen, underground form at the ends of the rhizomes nodule for overwintering. Around September wilting leaves and stems, as well as underground dissolves the connection between the individual tubers.
Dissemination
The distribution is eurosibirisch and North American. In the Swiss Alps, the Seven Star is rare to find (occurrence in the cantons of Graubünden and Schwyz ); he gets there until at altitudes of 2100 meters.
As Rohhumuspflanze Siebensterngasse preferred moss -rich deciduous and coniferous forests as sites. Also fens are among his growing areas. It is found along streams, in the swamp and in the transitional bog as well as of rich spruce and pine forests. The seven-pointed star is lime-intolerant.
Swell
- K. Taylor, DC Havill, J. Pearson, J. Woodall. Trientalis europaea L. Biological Flora of the British Isles. In: Journal of Ecology. 90, 2002, pp. 404-418 (Abstract).