Helianthemum nummularium

Helianthemum nummularium (known as common rock-rose[1]) is a species of rock-rose (Cistaceae), native to most of Europe.

Helianthemum nummularium
Helianthemum nummularium subsp. glabrum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Cistaceae
Genus: Helianthemum
Species:
H. nummularium
Binomial name
Helianthemum nummularium
Helianthemum nummularium - MHNT

Description

It is an evergreen trailing plant with loose terminal clusters of bright yellow, saucer-shaped flowers. In the flower centre is a tight cluster of orange stamens, which are sensitive to the touch, and spread outwards to reveal the tall stigma in the middle. The plant is common on chalk downs, and occasional in other grasslands, always on dry, base-rich soil. The wild species has yellow flowers, but garden varieties range from white through yellow to deep red.

Though the individual blooms are short-lived, the plant produces a mass of flowers through the summer. It needs a dry, sunny place, like a south-facing rockery or meadow. As the Latin name Helianthemum suggests, these are sun-flowers. This is a good nectar source for bees and there are several species of small beetle that feed on the foliage. Common rock-rose is also the food plant for the larvae of several species of moth and butterfly such as the silver-studded blue (Plebejus argus).

It flowers from May until July.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are eight subspecies:

  • Helianthemum nummularium subsp. nummularium. Widespread.
  • Helianthemum nummularium subsp. berterianum. Italy, southeast France.
  • Helianthemum nummularium subsp. glabrum. Central and southern Europe.
  • Helianthemum nummularium subsp. grandiflorum. Central and southern Europe.
  • Helianthemum nummularium subsp. obscurum. Eastern Europe.
  • Helianthemum nummularium subsp. pyrenaicum. Pyrenees.
  • Helianthemum nummularium subsp. semiglabrum. Italy, southeast France.
  • Helianthemum nummularium subsp. tomentosum. Southern Europe.

subsp. grandiflorum (Scop.) Schinz & Thell.

subsp. nummularium

subsp. obscurum (Čelak.) Holub)
  • H. nummularium subsp. obscurum
    Germany - Schwäbisch Fränkische Waldberge
  • H. nummularium subsp. obscurum
    Germany - Schwäbisch Fränkische Waldberge
  • H. nummularium subsp. obscurum
    Germany - Schwäbische Alb
  • H. nummularium subsp. obscurum
    Germany - Schwäbische Alb

Pink-flowered cultivars

Illustrations
  • flower diagram

Unclassified images of Helianthemum nummularium
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References
  1. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
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