Anagallis foemina
Encyclopedia
Anagallis foemina, common name Poorman's Weatherglass, is a low-growing annual
herbaceous
plant of the genus Anagallis
belonging to the Myrsinaceae
family.
The small flowers are about 8 mm (0.31496062992126 in) in diameter, have a short stalk, are produced in the leaf axils and are usually blue, but exceptionally they may be red. They have five lanceolate sepal
s and five petals. The filaments are about 3 mm (0.118110236220472 in) long, with showy yellow anthers. The flowering period extends from April to October. The hermaphroditic
flowers are pollinated by insects (entomogamy). The fruit is a spherical capsule up to 4 mm (0.15748031496063 in) in diameter containing about 15 seeds.
This species should not be confused with the related Anagallis arvensis. In 2007, a molecular phylogenetic study showed that Anagallis foemina is more closely related to Anagallis monelli
than to Anagallis arvensis, and should be treated as a separate species.
Anagallis foemina can be distinguished from Anagallis arvensis on the basis of the hairiness and arrangement of the petals and by the length of the flower stalk. In fact this species has just a few glandular hairs on the margin of the petals, clearly separated one from another (never imbricate
). Furthermore the flower stalk is shorter (up to 1 cm). The colour of the flowers is not a diagnostic character.
and has been introduced in Africa
, northern and eastern Asia
, North and South America
and western Australia
.
Annual plant
An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed...
herbaceous
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
plant of the genus Anagallis
Anagallis
Anagallis is a genus of about 20–25 species of flowering plants in the myrsine family Myrsinaceae, commonly called pimpernel and perhaps best known for the Scarlet pimpernel referred to in literature...
belonging to the Myrsinaceae
Myrsinaceae
Myrsinaceae, or the Myrsine family, is a rather large family from the order Ericales. It consists of 35 genera and about 1000 species....
family.
Etymology
The genus name Anagallis derives from the Greek words meaning "again" and meaning "to delight in", possibly referring to the fact that these plants produce flowers twice in a year and the flowers open whenever the sun strikes them. The species epithet means "female" and refers to the small size of the plant and the gentleness of its appearance. The common name refers to the fact that the flowers close at the approaching of the bad weather.Description
Anagallis foemina has weak, square and sprawling stems growing to about 5–18 cm (2–7.1 ) long, which bear bright green sessile leaves in opposite pairs. The leaves are usually lance-shaped about 7 millimetre wide and 12 millimetre long, although some leaves, especially the lowest, may be ovate.The small flowers are about 8 mm (0.31496062992126 in) in diameter, have a short stalk, are produced in the leaf axils and are usually blue, but exceptionally they may be red. They have five lanceolate sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s and five petals. The filaments are about 3 mm (0.118110236220472 in) long, with showy yellow anthers. The flowering period extends from April to October. The hermaphroditic
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
flowers are pollinated by insects (entomogamy). The fruit is a spherical capsule up to 4 mm (0.15748031496063 in) in diameter containing about 15 seeds.
This species should not be confused with the related Anagallis arvensis. In 2007, a molecular phylogenetic study showed that Anagallis foemina is more closely related to Anagallis monelli
Anagallis monelli
Anagallis monelli is a species of pimpernel, native to the Mediterranean region. It is not to be confused with Anagallis foemina, which has very similar blue flowers, but broader leaves and can can be found also in colder climates. In a comparison of DNA sequences, Anagallis monelli was shown to...
than to Anagallis arvensis, and should be treated as a separate species.
Anagallis foemina can be distinguished from Anagallis arvensis on the basis of the hairiness and arrangement of the petals and by the length of the flower stalk. In fact this species has just a few glandular hairs on the margin of the petals, clearly separated one from another (never imbricate
Glossary of botanical terms
Many of the terms used in Wikipedia glossaries are already defined and explained within Wikipedia itself. However, lists like the following indicate where new articles need to be written and are also useful for looking up and comparing large numbers of terms together.This glossary is incomplete;...
). Furthermore the flower stalk is shorter (up to 1 cm). The colour of the flowers is not a diagnostic character.
Distribution
This cosmopolitan plant is native to central and southern EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and has been introduced in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, northern and eastern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, North and South America
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
and western Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.