2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Leucophyllum (Latin Leucophyllum) - a genus of evergreen flowering shrubs of the Scrophulariaceae family. In the literature, you can find information that this genus belongs to the Myoporovye family (Latin Myoporaceae), since at first it was reckoned with it. Shrubs of the genus Leucophyllum prefer sandy soils. They are highly drought tolerant and tolerant of saline soils. Shrubs are capable of predicting rainy weather. A few days before the heavenly showers, they cover their branches with an abundant pale purple bloom. In such a beautiful way, the plant, apparently, reacts to an increase in air humidity.
What's in your name
The Latin name of the genus "Leucophyllum", as often happens when naming new plants found in nature, is based on two Greek words meaning, translated into a language we understand, "white" plus "leaf". This decision was made by the French botanist Aime Jacques Alexandre Bonpland, 1773-22-08 - 1858-04-05, looking at the silvery-white leaves of a picturesque branchy bush on his delightful journey through the tropics of the New World.
Description
Plants of the genus Leucophyllum, with their very unpretentious nature to the conditions of life, are distinguished by enviable decorativeness.
A branchy shrub up to two meters in height grows rapidly, forming dense thickets, which is used by humans in the construction of hedges. Its numerous stems are densely covered with small light green pubescent leaves, which seem to be covered with a silvery-white coating, muffling greenery and giving the bush a mysterious look. Oval leaves, practically, sit on the stem, or have short petioles.
The bush can stand for a long time with only one leaves, and then, as if by magic, suddenly become covered with a thick carpet of small graceful flowers. Flower petals can be white, pinkish, or a pleasant lilac shade. The combination of silvery white leaves and light lilac bell-shaped flowers gives the bush a noble look. In the pharynx of a small bell flower, 4 stamens and a pistil with an ovoid ovary are visible.
Flowers on short stalks appear in numerous leaf axils, transforming the entire stem into one elegant bouquet.
Numerous seeds are hidden in the seed pod, which is the crown of the growing cycle. When the seeds are fully ripe, the capsule crumbles, giving the seeds freedom.
Natural barometer
Abundant flowering, generously covering the branches of the bush, always appears unexpectedly. Yesterday the shrub showed its silvery gray leaves, and in the morning the whole bush was suddenly covered with purple miniature 5-petal bells. It seems that just a little touch of this splendor, as a melodic chime will float through the garden.
People have noticed that blooms appear a couple of days before inclement weather. Therefore, the plant is sometimes called "Bush-barometer" and with its help they determine the weather for the coming days.
Area
The native land of plants of the genus is the southwest of North America, regions with an arid climate. Shrubs show amazing drought resistance, managing to retain moisture in their densely pubescent small leaves. They are also tolerant of the saline soils of the sea shores.
Due to their unpretentiousness and abundant gentle flowering, shrubs of the genus Leukophyllum are very popular as ornamental plantings in Europe, Asia, Africa. They grow well on sandy soils, preferring sunny locations.
The most popular in ornamental gardening is Shrub Leucophyllum (Latin Leucophyllum frutescens), which can be found in a separate article.
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Shrub Leucophyllum
Shrub leucophyllum (Latin Leucophyllum frutescens) - compact evergreen shrub of the genus Leucophyllum (Latin Leucophyllum), belonging to the Scrophulariaceae family. It is the most common species of the genus Leucophyllum, native to the arid lands of southwestern North America.
