Cymbalaria

Cymbalaria
Cymbalaria muralis (ivy-leaved toadflax)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Tribe: Antirrhineae
Genus: Cymbalaria
Hill[1][2]

Cymbalaria is a genus of about 10 species of herbaceous perennial plants previously placed in the family Scrophulariaceae, but recently shown by genetic research to be in the much enlarged family Plantaginaceae.[citation needed]

The genus is native to southern Europe. It is closely related to the genera Linaria and Antirrhinum, differing in having creeping growth and flowers borne singly rather than in dense erect spikes. The common name toadflax is shared with Linaria and other related genera. The scientific name means "resembling a cymbal" for the somewhat rounded leaves.

By far the best known species is Cymbalaria muralis (also called ivy-leaved toadflax, and Kenilworth ivy), native to southwest Europe. It has widely naturalised elsewhere and is commonly sold as a garden plant. C. muralis characteristically grows in sheltered crevices in walls and pathways, or in rocks and scree, making a trailing or scrambling plant up to 1 m long.

Species list

Accepted species are:[3]

Taxonomy

Described as Cymbalaria by the English botanist, John Hill in 1756.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b "IPNI: Cymbalaria". International Plant Name Index. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b Hill, J. 1756. Brit. Herb. 113; cited in Druce in The Botanical Exchange Club of the British Isles Report for 1913, iii. 437.
  3. ^ Govaerts, R. et al. 2018. "Plants of the World online: Cymbalaria". Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 28 May 2018.