Ajuga genevensis

Ajuga genevensis (also variously known as the upright bugle,[1] blue bugle,[2] Geneva bugleweed,[3] blue bugleweed[4]) is a herbaceous flowering plant native to Europe. It is less common than its relative, Ajuga reptans (common bugle).

Ajuga genevensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Ajuga
Species:
A. genevensis
Binomial name
Ajuga genevensis

Description

Ajuga genevensis is a perennial plant (flowering between April and July) growing to a height of between 10 and 30 cm.[5] Evergreen, it has long-stalked, obovate, basal leaves which are shallowly lobed or toothed.[1]

It has an upright stem with flowers arranged in dense, terminal, spike-like inflorescences. The flowers are usually violet-blue, though can be pink or white,[1] and the uppermost flowers are often flushed with blue.[5] When pink, it is sometimes known as "pink beauty", and when white, it is sometimes known as "alba".[6] The flowers have short upper-lips with protruding stamens and pistil.[5] The plant sometimes suffers from Erysiphe biocellata, a type of mildew.[2]

Relatives
Ajuga reptans, a relative with which A. genevensis sometimes interbreeds.

Ajuga genevensis is a less common relative of Ajuga reptans, the Common bugle, though it is common for the two plants to interbreed, as well as with Ajuga pyramidalis, the pyramidal bugle, producing hybrid offspring that are very similar.[7]

Varieties

There are also several variants of Ajuga genevensis such as A. genevensis var. arida (a variety with short grey hairs found in mountain meadows) and A. genevensis var. elatior (a mountain plant with randomly hairy stems). Both varieties vary slightly in the shape and size of the leaves and bracts.[5]

Distribution

Ajuga genevensis is found on the edges of dry woods, as well as in thickets and grasslands.[5] It is found in Europe (from France to western Russia), Turkey and the Caucasus.[8] It is also naturalized in North America,[8] as a result of seeds that have escaped from gardens.[9] It is used as an ornamental plant in gardens worldwide,[1] where it used in edges due to its slower spread compared with A. reptans.[3]

Uses

Ajuga genevensis herb has been used in the traditional Austrian medicine internally as tea for treatment of disorders related with the respiratory tract.[10]

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See also

References
  • Tomanová, Eliška (1981). The Hamlyn Book of Wild Flowers. Prague: Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-35582-9.
  1. Brickell, Christopher (1999). The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 92. ISBN 1-84100-022-1.
  2. Storey, Malcolm. "Ajuga genevensis L. (Blue Bugle)". BioImages. Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  3. Hodgeson, Larry (2005). Making the Most of Shade. Rodale Press. p. 127. ISBN 1-57954-966-7. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  4. McIndoe, Andrew; Hobbs, Kevin (2005). Perennials. David & Charles. p. 118. ISBN 1-55870-764-6. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  5. Tomanová, 178
  6. Ellis, Barbara W. (2001). Taylor's Guide to Perennials. Houghton Mifflin. p. 238. ISBN 0-395-98363-0. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  7. Tomanová, 179
  8. "Ajuga genevensis L.". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
  9. Rhoads, Ann Fowler; Klein, William M.; Klein, Janet E. (1993). The Vascular Flora of Pennsylvania. DIANE Publishing. p. 304. ISBN 0-87169-207-4. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  10. Vogl, S.; Picker, P.; Mihaly-Bison, J.; Fakhrudin, N.; Atanasov, A. G.; Heiss, E. H.; Wawrosch, C.; Reznicek, G.; Dirsch, V. M.; Saukel, J.; Kopp, B. (13 June 2013). "Ethnopharmacological in vitro studies on Austria's folk medicine - An unexplored lore in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of 71 Austrian traditional herbal drugs". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 149 (3): 750–71. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2013.06.007. PMC 3791396. PMID 23770053.
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