''Anagallis'' is a genus of about 20–25 species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Primulaceae The Primulaceae , commonly known as the primrose family (but not related to the evening primrose family), are a family of herbaceous and woody flowering plants including some favourite garden plants and wildflowers. Most are perennial though som ...

, commonly called pimpernel. The

scarlet pimpernel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in London, having ...

referred to in literature is part of this genus. The

botanical name A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the ''International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants'' (ICN) and, if it concerns a plant cultigen, the additional cultivar or Group epithets must conform to the ''Internat ...

is from the Greek ( 'again') and ( 'to delight in'), and it refers to the opening and closing of the flowers in response to environmental conditions. These are

annual Annual may refer to: *Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year ** Yearbook ** Literary annual *Annual plant *Annual report *Annual giving *Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco *Annuals (band), ...

perennial plant A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

s, growing in tufts on

weed A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place", or a plant growing where it is not wanted.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. ...

y and uncultivated areas. The stems are prostrate or decumbent. The leaves are opposite, rarely whorled, and sometimes with a few alternate leaves at the end of the stem. They are usually ovate in shape with a cordate base. Some of the species produce

flowers A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism ...

of various colors. The flowers are radially symmetrical and have 5

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coine ...

s. The corolla consists of a short tube and 5 lobes. The tube may be so short that the lobes appear to be separate petals. They are usually solitary in the leaf axils, but sometimes are on short spikes at the end of the stem. Pimpernel flowers remain open only under direct sun-light. The stamens are opposite the corolla lobes. The staminal filaments have conspicuous hairs. The ovary is superior, globose, and circumscissile near the middle. They were traditionally classified as members of the primrose family (Primulaceae), but a genetic and morphological study by et al.
available online
showed that they belonged to the closely related family

Myrsinaceae Myrsinoideae is a subfamily of the family Primulaceae in the order Ericales. It was formerly recognized as the family Myrsinaceae, or the myrsine family, consisting of 35 genera and about 1000 species. It is widespread in temperate to tropical ...

. In the APG III system, published in 2009, Primulaceae is expanded to include Myrsinaceae, thus ''Anagallis'' is back in Primulaceae again. Another study by Ulrika Manns and Arne A. Anderberg (2005), based on molecular

phylogeny A phylogenetic tree (also phylogeny or evolutionary tree Felsenstein J. (2004). ''Inferring Phylogenies'' Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.) is a branching diagram or a tree showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological spe ...

, states that ''Anagallis'' in its present

circumscription Circumscription may refer to: *Circumscribed circle * Circumscription (logic) *Circumscription (taxonomy) *Circumscription theory, a theory about the origins of the political state in the history of human evolution proposed by the American anthrop ...

is paraphyletic and should also include in its clade the small genera '' Asterolinon'' and '' Pelletiera'', as well as two ''

Lysimachia ''Lysimachia'' () is a genus consisting of 193 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family wa ...

'' species (''

Lysimachia nemorum ''Lysimachia nemorum'', the yellow pimpernel, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. Description ''Lysimachia nemorum'' is an evergreen creeping perennial herbaceous plant growing up to about 40 cm. The bright green leaves are ...

'' and '' Lysimachia serpyllifolia'').

Species

*''Anagallis acuminata'' - (Angola) *''Anagallis alternifolia'' - (Chile) *'' Anagallis arvensis'' -

Scarlet pimpernel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in London, having ...

, red pimpernel (Europe; syn. *''A. parviflora'', ''A. platyphylla'', ''A. phoenicea'') *''Anagallis barbata'' - (Brazil) *''Anagallis brevipes'' - (Tanzania) *''Anagallis crassifolia '' - (Spain, Morocco) *''Anagallis djalonis '' - (tropical Africa) *''Anagallis filiformis'' - (Brazil) *''

Anagallis foemina ''Lysimachia foemina'' is commonly known as blue pimpernel or poor man's weatherglass, and was formerly called ''Anagallis foemina''. It is a low-growing annual herbaceous plant in the genus ''Lysimachia'' of the family Primulaceae. In a compar ...

'' - Blue pimpernel (Europe; syn. '' Anagallis caerulea'') *''Anagallis gracilipes'' - (Zimbabwe) *''Anagallis hexamera'' - (Ethiopia, Kenya) *''Anagallis kingaensis '' - (tropical Africa) *'' Anagallis minima'' - Chaffweed (Europe, a cosmopolitan weed whose native status outside Europe is unclear;Anagallis minima (L.) Krause
USDA PLANTS syn. ''A. centunculus'', previously ''Centunculus minimus'') *'' Anagallis monelli'' - Flaxleaf pimpernel (Mediterranean; syn. ''A. linifolia'') *''Anagallis nummulariifolia'' - (Madagascar) *''Anagallis oligantha '' - (Malawi) *''Anagallis peploides'' - (Madagascar) *''Anagallis pumila'' - Florida pimpernel (Americas) *''Anagallis rubricaulis'' - (Madagascar) *''Anagallis schliebenii '' - (Tanzania) *''Anagallis serpens'' - (eastern Africa) *'' Anagallis tenella'' - Bog pimpernel (Europe; syn. ''A. repens '') *''Anagallis tenuicaulis'' - (Madagascar) *''Anagallis tsaratananae '' - (Madagascar)

References

Image:Anagallis foemina garganta y envés.jpg, Blue Pimpernel (''Anagallis foemina'') Image:Anagallis arvensis 2.jpg, Scarlet Pimpernel (''Anagallis arvensis'') - flower Image:Lysimachia monelli (flowers).jpg, Flaxleaf Pimpernel (''Anagallis monelli'') Image:Illustration Anagallis caerulea0.jpg, ''Anagallis arvensis'' from Thomé, ''Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz'' 1885 {{Taxonbar, from=Q157732 Primulaceae genera