Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Antirrhinum majus

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Kingdom
  
Plantae

Genus
  
Higher classification
  
Snapdragons

Order
  
Scientific name
  
Rank
  
Species

Antirrhinum majus ANTIRRHINUM majus POTOMAC APPELBLOSSOM

Family
  
Plantaginaceae /Veronicaceae

Similar
  
Snapdragons, Petunia, Scrophulariaceae, Marigold, Ageratum

Snapdragon flowers antirrhinum majus in mughal gardens at rashtrapati bhavan


Antirrhinum majus (common snapdragon; often - especially in horticulture - simply "snapdragon") is a species of flowering plant belonging to the genus Antirrhinum. It is native to the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal north to southern France, and east to Turkey and Syria. The common name "snapdragon", originates from the flowers' reaction to having their throats squeezed, which causes the "mouth" of the flower to snap open like a dragon's mouth.

Contents

Antirrhinum majus Antirrhinum majus Snapdragon

Flower gardens how to grow snapdragon antirrhinum majus


Description

Antirrhinum majus Antirrhinum majus

It is an herbaceous perennial plant, growing to 0.5–1 m tall, rarely up to 2 m. The leaves are spirally arranged, broadly lanceolate, 1–7 cm long and 2-2.5 cm broad. The flowers are produced on a tall spike, each flower is 3.5-4.5 cm long, zygomorphic, with two 'lips' closing the corolla tube; wild plants have pink to purple flowers, often with yellow lips. The fruit is an ovoid capsule 10–14 mm diameter, containing numerous small seeds. The plants are pollinated by bumblebees, and the flowers close over the insects when they enter and deposit pollen on their bodies.

Taxonomy

There are five subspecies:

Antirrhinum majus Antirrhinum majus Hortipedia

  • Antirrhinum majus subsp. majus. Southern France, northeast Spain.
  • Antirrhinum majus subsp. cirrhigerum (Ficalho) Franco. Southern Portugal, southwest Spain.
  • Antirrhinum majus subsp. linkianum (Boiss. & Reut.) Rothm. Western Portugal (endemic).
  • Antirrhinum majus subsp. litigiosum (Pau) Rothm. Southeastern Spain.
  • Antirrhinum majus subsp. tortuosum (Bosc) Rouy. Throughout the species' range.
  • Cultivation and uses

    Antirrhinum majus httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

    Though perennial, the species is often cultivated as a biennial or annual plant, particularly in colder areas where it may not survive the winter. Numerous cultivars are available, including plants with lavender, orange, pink, yellow, or white flowers, and also plants with peloric flowers, where the normal flowering spike is topped with a single large, symmetrical flower.

    The trailing (creeping) variety is often referred to as A. majus pendula (syn. A. pendula, A. repens).

    Antirrhinum majus THE SNAPDRAGON Antirrhinum majus The Garden of Eaden

    It often escapes from cultivation, and naturalised populations occur widely in Europe north of the native range, and elsewhere in temperate regions of the world.

    Antirrhinum majus Antirrhinum majus 39Royal Bride39 Buy Online at Annie39s Annuals

    In the laboratory it is a model organism, for example containing the gene DEFICIENS which provides the letter "D" in the acronym MADS-box for a family of genes which are important in plant development.

    Chemistry

    Antirrhinin is an anthocyanin found in A. majus. It is the 3-rutinoside of cyanidin.

    References

    Antirrhinum majus Wikipedia


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