Campanula - bell flower

A general term for the genus Campanula in the Campanulaceae family (APG classification: Campanulaceae). Most are perennial plants, but there are also biennial and annual plants. There are about 420 species distributed in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, and in Japan, bellflower, Chinese bellflower, and night lily grow wild. The flowers are funnel-shaped, bell-shaped or tubular, with five lobes, and grow terminally or axillarily. The flower color varies from white to bluish-purple and comes in a variety of shades. The fruit is a capsule with tiny seeds. It grows well in cool, dry climates. It is used in flower beds, potted plants, and as cut flowers, but some species are edible.

Canterbury bells ( C. medium L.), a member of the same genus, is a biennial plant native to southern Europe. It grows to a height of 30-60 cm, and blooms wisteria-blue or pink-white bell-shaped flowers from May to August. There are also double-flowered varieties, which are used in flower beds and for cut flowers. It is cold-resistant, but weak to high summer humidity. Peach leaf bell flower ( C. persicifolia L.) is a perennial plant distributed from northern Europe to western Asia. Its stems are erect, 0.3-1 m tall, and entirely hairless. It has creeping roots, and the basal leaves are long-stalked and thin, spatula-shaped, oblong, and sometimes disappear during the flowering season. It blooms in May and June, and blooms pale purple-blue or white, broad bell-shaped flowers measuring 2.5 cm in length and diameter. There are many varieties with white double or semi-double flowers, which are good for flower beds but are often used as cut flowers. Seeds are planted in spring and bloom the following year. Divide the plant in autumn. The basal leaves are cold-resistant, but weak to high temperatures and humidity in summer, so it is good for cultivation in high altitude areas. Dalmatian bell flower / C. portenschlagiana Schult. is a perennial plant native to southeastern Europe and the Balkan region. It is small, 10 to 15 cm tall, and the entire plant is hairless. The stems grow slightly upright or horizontally, branch well, and bear dark green, heart-shaped circular leaves. In May and June, it produces many funnel-shaped, bell-shaped, blue-purple flowers with a diameter of 1 cm, facing upwards or slightly horizontally. It has good flower shape and flowering, is strong, and has strong reproductive power, and has been cultivated for a long time. It is semi-cold-resistant, so it should be grown in a sunny place, and in cold areas it needs protection in winter. After flowering, propagate by dividing the rhizomes.

[Makoto Togashi October 20, 2021]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

キキョウ科（APG分類：キキョウ科）ホタルブクロ属の総称。多くは多年草であるが一、二年草もある。北半球の温帯に約420種分布し、日本にはイワギキョウ、チシマギキョウ、ホタルブクロ、ヤツシロソウなどが自生する。花は漏斗(ろうと)状鐘形または筒形で5裂し、頂生または腋生(えきせい)する。花色は白、青紫などで濃淡の変化がある。果実は蒴果(さくか)で種子は微小である。冷涼で乾燥した気候でよく育つ。花壇、鉢植え、切り花用とするが、食用になる種類もある。

　同属のフウリンソウ（風鈴草）canterbury bells／C. medium L. は南ヨーロッパ原産の二年草。高さ30～60センチメートルで、5～8月に藤青、桃白色の鐘状花を開く。八重咲き種もあり、花壇、切り花用とする。耐寒性は強いが、夏の多湿には弱い。モモノハギキョウ（桃葉桔梗）peach leaf bell flower／C. persicifolia L.は北ヨーロッパから西アジアに分布する多年草。茎は直立し高さ0.3～1メートルで全株無毛。匍匐(ほふく)根があり、根出葉は長柄をもち細いへら状長楕円(ちょうだえん)形で、開花期にはなくなるときもある。5～6月、長さ径とも2.5センチメートル、淡紫青または白色の広鐘形花を開く。白色八重咲きまたは半八重咲きの変種も多数あり、花壇にもよいが切り花用が多い。春の実生(みしょう)で翌年開花する。株分けは秋にする。根出葉の耐寒性は強いが、夏の高温多湿に弱いので高冷地での栽培によい。オトメギキョウ（乙女桔梗）dalmatian bell flower／C. portenschlagiana Schult.は南東ヨーロッパ、バルカン地方原産の多年草。高さ10～15センチメートルと小形で全株無毛。茎はやや直立または横に伸びてよく分枝し、濃緑色の心臓状円形葉をつける。5～6月、漏斗状鐘形で径1センチメートルの青紫色花を上向きまたはやや横向きにいっぱいつける。花形、花つきともよく強健で、繁殖力も強く、古くから栽培されている。半耐寒性で、日当りのよい所で育て、寒冷地では冬期の保護が必要。花期後、根茎を株分けして殖やす。

［冨樫　誠　2021年10月20日］

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