Favratia Explained

Favratia zoysii, known commonly as Zois' bellflower, Zoysi's harebell, or crimped bellflower, is the sole member of the genus Favratia, closely related to Campanula (bellflowers).[1] [2] [3]

Distribution and habitat

The plant is endemic to Austria, northern Italy (Friuli–Venezia Giulia and Veneto), and Slovenia. It grows most readily in limestone crevices in the Julian, Kamnik–Savinja Alps and the Peca Mountain,[4] as well as in the dolomitic Alps of Italy and Austria.[5] A white-flowered form of C. zoysii, called Lismore Ice[6] was cultured from seeds harvested in the Julian Alps. The plant is much more compact in growth than its purple form. It is also slower growing and has smaller leaves, the tips of which are yellow.

Favratia zoysii can survive in temperatures as low as -35C-40C.[5] Garden pests include slugs and snails.[7]

Description

The plant tends to grow low, reaching anywhere from 5to in height, though some plants may grow as tall as 23sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1.[1] Tufts (or "cushions") of the plant tend to creep outward as it grows.[5] Seedlings require two years to grow to flower.

Flowers

The genus is unique among its family of bellflowers. The mouth of F. zoysiis bell-shaped flower narrows, ending in a five-pointed star, while the flowers of Campanula species are likewise bell-shaped, but open.[5] [8] (The "pinched" shape of these flowers nonetheless manages to allow insects inside for pollination.) The flowers are arranged one to three for each stem.[1] The plant's pale sky blue- to lavender-colored flowers bloom in June over a three- to four-week period.[5]

Leaves

Leaves are crowded at the root, stalked, ovate and blunt; stem leaves are obovate, lance-shaped and linear.[1]

Cultural significance

Favratia zoysii is held in high regard in Slovenia. It is considered a symbol of the Slovene Alps, and was called "the true daughter of the Slovene mountains" by the renowned botanist Viktor Petkovšek (1908–1994). It is the symbol of the oldest (and the only one in the natural environment) alpine garden in Slovenia, Alpinum Juliana, established in 1926.[9]

Favratia zoysii is highly esteemed as an ornamental plant in rock gardens. The September 1905 issue of Gardeners' Chronicle praises F. zoysii as "choicest and most distinct ... of a genus comprising flowers of the greatest beauty and of the highest merit in the garden".[10]

The plant was named by the botanist Franz Xaver von Wulfen (1728–1805) in honor of its discoverer, the botanist Karl von Zois (1756–1799), who introduced it to him. It was first described by Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin in 1789.

References

Notes
  • References
  • Notes and References

    1. Book: Robinson, W . Hardy Flowers . Macmillan and Co. . 1878 . London . 86 .
    2. Book: Walter Erhardt. Allen J. Coombes. The Timber Press Dictionary of Plant Names. registration. 1 September 2012. 2009. Timber Press. 978-1-60469-115-3. 182.
    3. 10.1111/jse.12586 . Phylogenetic analyses confirm polyphyly of the genus Campanula (Campanulaceae s. STR.), leading to a proposal for generic reappraisal . 2020 . Xu . Chao . Hong . De-Yuan . Journal of Systematics and Evolution . 59 . 3 . 475–489 . 216217907 .
    4. Web site: Naravne znamenitosti: Peca . Karavanke.eu . 12 March 2012.
    5. Web site: Walek . Kristl . Campanula zoysii: "Daughter of the Slovene Mountains" . Ottawa Valley Rock Garden & Horticultural Society . https://web.archive.org/web/20060927185918/http://www.ovrghs.ca/articles/Plants/Campanula%20zoysii.htm . dead . 27 September 2006 . 6 August 2010 .
    6. Web site: Lismore Ice - Campanula Zoisii .
    7. Book: Meredith, Lewis B . Rock Gardens: How to Make and Maintain Them . Charles Scribner's Sons . 1914 . New York . 254 .
    8. Web site: Campanula zoysii . Campanula Bellflowers . Wild Ginger Farm . 6 August 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100629101906/http://www.wildgingerfarm.com/Campanula.htm . 2010-06-29 . dead .
    9. Zoisova zvončica – simbol rastlinstva na sončni strani Alp . Epicenter: Glasilo Posoškega Razvojnega Centra . Slovenian . Zois' Bellflower – the Symbol of the Flora on the Sunny Side of the Alps . VII . 6–7 . 2006 . 1581-6087 . 24 . 2014-08-13 . 2014-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140813164204/http://www.prc.si/file/download/148_2fc881e5d502 . dead .
    10. News: Alpine Garden: Campanula zoysii . Gardeners' Chronicle . London . XXVIII . 228–229 . 23 September 1905 .