Cephalaria

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Cephalaria
Cephalaria gigantea
Tatarian cephalaria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Subfamily: Dipsacoideae
Genus: Cephalaria
Schrad. (1818), nom. cons.
Species[1]

102; see text

Synonyms[1]
  • Cephalodes St.-Lag. (1881)
  • Cerionanthus Schott ex Roem. & Schult. (1818)
  • Lepicephalus Lag. (1816)
  • Leucopsora Raf. (1838)
  • Phalacrocarpus (Boiss.) Tiegh. (1909)
  • Xetola Raf. (1838)

Cephalaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caprifoliaceae. It includes 102 species native to southern Europe, western and central Asia, and northern and southern Africa.[1]

They are annual or perennial herbaceous plants growing to 0.8–2 m tall.

Cephalaria species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Schinia imperialis, which feeds exclusively on C. procera.

Species[edit]

102 species are accepted.[1]

Cultivation and uses[edit]

Some species are grown as ornamental plants in gardens. The most popular species is C. gigantea, a perennial species from the Caucasus growing to 2 m tall, valued for its strong erect growth with dark green foliage and yellow flowers.[2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Cephalaria Schrad". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  2. ^ Huxley, A., ed. (1992). The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-47494-5.