Alpine Rezuha

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Alpine rezuha (lat. Arabis alpina) - a perennial flowering evergreen plant growing in mountainous regions, belonging to the genus Rezuha (Latin Arabis) of the Cabbage family (Latin Brassicaceae). The spreading plant quickly forms solid cushions of rosettes of curvy basal leaves, which in spring are covered with a dense carpet of small 4-petal flowers of white or pink color. In culture, it is grown as an ornamental plant in different types of flower beds. Alpine rezuha is famous for its unpretentiousness, drought resistance, beautiful foliage and abundant fragrant spring blooms.

What's in your name

You can read about the meaning of the Latin name of the genus of plants "Arabis", with which the names of all species of the genus begin, in the article titled "Rezuha".

The specific epithet "alpina" ("alpine") the plant has earned by choosing a place of growth, since it grows in the wild in the alpine zone of mountain ranges. Moreover, as scientists believe, Alpine Rezuha is an old-timer of the planet, having appeared in the world two million years before today, having chosen the territory of Asia Minor for itself. Five hundred thousand years ago, Alpine Rezuha reached the eastern mountains of the African continent, where it grows today, enduring drought. In Europe, Alpine Rezuha is represented by genetically fairly homogeneous plants, and the greatest diversity can be observed only in Asia Minor.

Description

Alpine rezuha is an evergreen undersized (30-40 centimeters high) plant that forms dense cushions of leaves. In comparison with other species of the genus, this plant is larger and spreading.

Leaves of Alpine Rezuha are divided into petiolate, forming a basal rosette, and stem leaves that do not have petioles, but sit on the stem, tightly clasping it with their bases. The shape of the leaves is oval-oblong, a bit like the leaves of the Oak, only the edges of the leaf plate are not wavy, but jagged and prickly.

In spring, the green leaf cushion is covered with a dense carpet of bright pink or white flowers that exude a sweet scent. The flowers are small, the corolla is composed of four petals.

The fruit of the plant is slender, long seed pods containing numerous seeds.

Alpine rezuha loves the open sun and looks great as a border of a garden path, it feels cozy in the cracks of a rocky garden or on an alpine slide. Indeed, in the wild, it grows on rocky talus, often on limestone soils.

Model organism for genetics

The interest of scientists working in population genetics and molecular biology is growing in the study of Alpine Rezuha, which is an old-timer of our planet.

For example, if the Caucasian Rezuha (Arabis caucasica) was previously considered a subspecies of Alpine Rezuha, then as a result of genetic research botanists began to recognize this plant as a separate species.

Alpine motley Arabis

In ornamental gardening, a variety of Alpine Rezuha with variegated leaves stands out. This evergreen herbaceous perennial has a relatively fine texture. It requires very little attention from the grower, living in one place for up to 10 (ten) years. It is important that the place is dry, since stagnant water is detrimental to the plant.

Its attractive small, narrow leaves, forming dense basal rosettes, retain their grayish-green color throughout the year with a spectacular cream-white frame. This type of Rezukha grows very slowly, rising to a height of 15 centimeters, with a spread over an area of 0.5 meters. The variegated plant will be a unique addition to other plants in alpine slides and rocky gardens.

Throughout the spring months, the ends of the stems are adorned with white, slightly scented flowers. For abundant flowering, the place must be open to the sun. To avoid the removal of flowers of the current season, the plant is pruned only after the end of flowering. For the winter period, the plant is covered with a layer of mulch.