Hesperocodon

Hesperocodon hederaceus, synonym Wahlenbergia hederacea, also known as the ivy-leaved bellflower,[1] is a species of flowering plant that is found throughout Europe. It is the only species in the genus Hesperocodon. The delicate, patch-forming, hairless perennial herb has thin, creeping stems about 20 cm in length. Its pale green leaves are long-stalked and have an ivy-shaped, rounded structure. These leaves can be described as having a cordate shape and are approximately 5–12 mm long and wide. The plant has erect, solitary, pale blue flowers in summer and autumn,[2] with bell-shaped corolla with 5 short lobes.[3] The flowers are 6–10 mm long x 5–8 mm wide[4] and sit on fine stalks 1–4 cm long. It is suggested that the long pedicels are an adaptation to assist in seed dispersal.[5]

Hesperocodon
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Hesperocodon
Eddie & Cupido
Species:
H. hederaceus
Binomial name
Hesperocodon hederaceus
(L.) Eddie & Cupido
Synonyms
  • Aikinia hederacea (L.) Salisb. ex Fourr.
  • Campanopsis hederacea (L.) Kuntze
  • Campanula hederacea L.
  • Campanula hederifolia Salisb.
  • Campanula pentagonophylla Vuk.
  • Cervicina hederacea (L.) Druce
  • Roucela hederacea (L.) Dumort.
  • Schultesia hederacea (L.) Roth
  • Valvinterlobus filiformis Dulac
  • Wahlenbergia hederacea (L.) Rchb.
  • Wahlenbergia hederifolia (Salisb.) Bubani
  • Wahlenbergia stenocalyx Ingw.

Habitat

Hesperocodon hederaceus is found in cool, moist and boggy, partially-shaded areas,[3] typically with acidic soils, such as woodlands, streams, pastures, heaths and beside rivulets. The plant thrives in short-grassed areas beside streams, with moist, acidic soils, and is almost never found in basic soils and stagnant water.[6] They usually occur in small, scattered groups. The abundance of the ivy-leaved bellflower has been declining throughout the 1900s due to the loss of their habitat.[5]

Distribution

Hesperocodon hederaceus is native to Europe and commonly found in Southern England, and Wales,[7] but also in North West England, Western Scotland, Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Western Germany, Spain, and Portugal.[6]

References
  1. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. Robinson, William (2009). Hardy Flowers. Applewood Books. p. 261. ISBN 9781429014434.
  3. Everett, Thomas H. (1982). The New York Botanical Garden illustrated encyclopedia of horticulture. Vol. 10. New York Botanical Garden. New York: Taylor & Francis. pp. 3521. ISBN 9780824072407.
  4. The Wild Flower Key, British Isles N.W. Europe, Francis Rose, WARNE, Published by the Penguin Group, 1991 reissue, ISBN 0-7232-2419-6
  5. Eddie, William; Cupido, Christopher (March 2014). "Hesperocodon, a new generic name for Wahlenbergia hederacea (Campanulaceae): phylogeny and capsule dehiscence". Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 71 (1): 63–74. doi:10.1017/s0960428613000310.
  6. Rix, Martyn (26 February 2004). "Plate 488. Wahlenbergia hederacea". Curtis's Botanical Magazine. 21 (1): 61–64. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8748.2004.00413.x.
  7. "Wahlenbergia hederacea | Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora". www.brc.ac.uk.
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