Centranthus ruber 紅纈草, 紅刺纈草, 距藥草, 快吻我, 狐狸刷, 魔鬼鬍子, 朱庇特鬍子

Common name: Red Valerian
Scientific name: Centranthus ruber 紅纈草, 紅刺纈草, 距藥草, 快吻我, 狐狸刷, 魔鬼鬍子, 朱庇特鬍子
Genus: Centranthus 距纈草屬*
Family: Caprifoliaceae 忍冬科, honeysuckle family

Remarks*:  It is formerly placed in Valerianaceae 敗醬科, valerian family. The family is now catergorized as subfamily Valerianoideae 纈草亞科 of  Caprifoliaceae 忍冬科, honeysuckle family by APGIV.

Origin: Neophyte (established after 1500 AD). It is a native of S.W. Europe and the Mediterranean region. It was grown by 1597 and was first recorded in the wild in 1763.

Date: 4th June (& 13th July)

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Flower buds.

69 right (1 stamen, 1 style)

5 petal lobes, 1 upper and 4 below. 1 stamen and 1 style. This is the male stage of the flower. Stamen is emerging from the flower but the 2 anthers are not yet split open. The style is still very short and not fully emerged.

The anthers had split open and yellow pollens are still attached on the anthers. The style is still short and not fully emerged.

The style is emerging further from the flower now.

This is the female stage of the flower. The stamen bent down while the style is fully emerging from the flower.

Each flower has a long spur (S) emerging from the corolla tube (CT). A: anther; CL: corolla lobes; F: filament; S: style

73 left (flower bud, spur)

Side view of the flowers.

A: anther; B: different stages of flower buds; CL: corolla lobes; CT: corolla tube; CS: corolla spur (note how its emerge from the CL);  IO: inferior ovary; F: filament; SE: sepals

76 The inflorescence

Fruits (F) are developing from the inferior ovary. B: bracts of the infloescence; Be: bracteoles.

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Photo took on 13th July, showing different stages of fruiting. 

Above and below photos, showing different stages of the maturation of pappus from the calyx.

Folded parachute (pappus).

Side view of the fruit and the pappus.

Front view of the pappus.