Santolina chamaecyparissus

Santolina chamaecyparissus (syn. S. incana), known as cotton lavender or lavender-cotton,[4] is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the western and central Mediterranean.

Santolina chamaecyparissus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Santolina
Species:
S. chamaecyparissus
Binomial name
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Synonyms[1][2][3]

Santolina marchii Arrigoni

Nomenclature

The specific epithet chamaecyparissus means "like Chamaecyparis" (ground cypress), though it is not closely related to that plant.[5] It is also not closely related to either cotton or lavender, despite its common name "cotton lavender". Recognized varieties or subspecies are

  • var. etrusca Lacaita ≡ S. etrusca (Lacaita) Marchi & D'Amato
  • subsp. magonica O. Bolòs, Molin. & P. Monts. ≡ S. magonica (O. Bolòs, Molin. & P. Monts.) Romo, = var. teucrietorum O. Bolòs & Vigo
  • var. pectinata f. insularis Gennari ex Fiori ≡ S. insularis (Gennari ex Fiori) Arrigoni
  • var. vedranensis O. Bolòs & Vigo ≡ S. vedranensis (O. Bolòs & Vigo) L. Sáez, M. Serrano, S. Ortiz & R. Carbajal[6]

Description

It is a small evergreen shrub growing to 50 cm (20 in) tall and broad. Densely covered in aromatic, grey-green leaves, in summer it produces masses of yellow, button-like composite flowerheads, held on slender stems above the foliage. The disc florets are tubular and there are no ray florets.[7]

Cultivation

This plant is valued in cultivation as groundcover or as an edging plant for a hot, sunny, well-drained spot, though it may be short-lived. Once established, plants can tolerate dry and poor soils. Its compact shape can be maintained by cutting back in spring.[8]

Numerous cultivars have been produced, of which 'Nana', a dwarf form growing to 25 cm (10 in), has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[9]

Uses

In cosmetics it is used as a tonic.[10] It is an effective fumigant[11]

Pathogens

References
  1. "Santolina chamaecyparissus". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens.
  2. UniProt. "Species Santolina chamaecyparissus". Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  3. Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem. "Details for: Santolina chamaecyparissus". Euro+Med PlantBase. Free University of Berlin. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  4. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  5. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  6. Giacò, Antonio; Astuti, Giovanni; Peruzzi, Lorenzo (2021). "Typification and nomenclature of the names in the Santolina chamaecyparissus species complex (Asteraceae)". Taxon. 70 (1): 189–201. doi:10.1002/tax.12429. ISSN 1996-8175.
  7. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  8. "Santolina chamaecyparissus - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  9. "RHS Plant Selector - Santolina chamaecyparissus 'Nana'". Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  10. Carrasco, F. (2009). "Ingredientes Cosméticos". Diccionario de Ingredientes\ 4ª Ed. www.imagenpersonal.net. p. 509. ISBN 978-84-613-4979-1.
  11. Wave Hill Botanical Garden Sign (14 August 2021). "English: Lavender cotton, Santolina Chamaecyparissus".
  12. Álvarez, L. A.; Pérez-Sierra, A.; León, M.; Armengol, J.; García-Jiménez, J. "Lavender cotton root rot: a new host of Phytophthora tentaculata found in Spain". American Phytopathological Society. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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