Odontites vulgarisMoench (= Odontites verna subsp. serotina (Dumort.) Corb.) Red False Bartsia

Odontites vulgarisMoench (= Odontites verna subsp. serotina (Dumort.) Corb.) - Red False Bartsia

Scientific Description:

Annual, eglandular-scabrid with short retrorse hairs. Stems ascending or erect, to 55 cm, usually with many long spreading branches. Leaves ± linear to linear-ovate, to 10−30 × 5−8 mm, irregularly serrate, sessile. Inflorescence lax, elongating in fruit; bracts leaf-like, ± equalling calyces. Pedicels absent or to 2 mm. Calyx tubular-campanulate, to 6.5 mm; tube c. 5 mm; teeth triangular, 2−2.3 mm, two slightly longer. Corolla 8−9 mm, reddish-pink, pilose; tube c. 5 mm. Anthers included or ± exserted, apiculate or acuminate, barbate. Capsule oblong, 6−7 × 3−4 mm, compressed towards apex, apiculate, glabrous or pubescent.

Flowering time: June−October.

Habitat: Damp meadows, stream-sides, igneous and limestone grassy slopes, in macchie, 840−2400 m.

Reference:

Hedge IC (1978). Odontites verna (Bellardi) Dumort., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 6: 765.

Public Description:

Odontites vulgaris, commonly known as “red false bartsia”, is native to Eurasia. It is an annual herb with reddish-pink flowers, and grows up to 55 cm in length. It blooms between June and October and is found in damp meadows, stream-sides, igneous and limestone grassy slopes and macchie. These areas often have low-fertility soils, so it is actually partly parasitic, gaining extra nutrients from the roots of its nearby host grasses.

References:

Anonymous (2016) http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/red-bartsia/,Accessed date: 17.09.2016.

Güner E D (2012) Odontites Ludw., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 654.