''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''

Gerbera jamesonii ''Gerbera jamesonii'' is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Gerbera'' belonging to the basal Mutisieae tribe within the large Asteraceae (or Compositae) family. It is indigenous to South Eastern Africa and commonly known as the Barberton ...

'', a South African species also known as ''Transvaal daisy'' or ''Barberton daisy''. Gerbera is also commonly known as the ''African daisy''.

Etymology

The genus was named in honour of German botanist and medical doctor Traugott Gerber (1710 — 1743) who travelled extensively in Russia and was a friend of Carl Linnaeus.

Description

''Gerbera'' species are tufted,

caulescent This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...

, perennial herbs, often with woolly crown, up to 80 cm high. Leaves are all in rosette, elliptical with entire or toothed margin or lobed
petiolate
or with a petaloid base, pinnately veined, often leathery and felted beneath. Single to several flowering stems from each rosette bear bracteate or ebracteate, simple, one-headed inflorescence-

capitulum capitulum (plural capitula) may refer to: *the Latin word for chapter ** an index or list of chapters at the head of a gospel manuscript ** a short reading in the Liturgy of the Hours *** derived from which, it is the Latin for the assembly known ...

. Capitula are radiate, with several rows of bracts. Ray

florets This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...

are female, 2-lipped, the outer lip is large and strap-shaped, inner lip consists of two small, thread-like lobes of white, pink or red, rarely yellow colour. Disc florets are fertile, five-lobed and irregularly 2-lipped with curled petals.

Species

Formerly included numerous species once considered members of ''Gerbera'' are now regarded as more suited to other genera: '' Chaptalia'', '' Leibnitzia'', ''

Mairia ''Mairia'' is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants assigned to the family Asteraceae. All species have leathery, entire or toothed leaves in rosettes, directly from the underground rootstock, and one or few flower heads sit at the top of the s ...

'', ''

Perdicium ''Perdicium'' is a genus of African plants in the tribe Mutisieae within the family Asteraceae. ; Species Trichocline ''Trichocline'' is a genus of Australian and South American plants in the tribe Mutisieae within the family Asteraceae. It consists of one species from Australia ''(T. spathulata)'' and twenty-three from South America. Its closest relatives are ...

'', and ''

Oreoseris ''Oreoseris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to Anatolia, Central Asia, the Himalaya region, and Thailand. Originally described in 1838, it was resurrected with the Asian species of ''Gerbera'' and all the species ...

''. In accordance with International Plant Names Index genus ''Gerbera'' includes 22 accepted species:

Section ''Gerbera''

* ''

Gerbera crocea ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a South ...

'' Kuntze — Dialstee * ''

Gerbera grandis ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a South ...

'' J.C.Manning & Simka * ''

Gerbera linnaei ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a South ...

Cass. Count Alexandre Henri Gabriel de Cassini (9 May 1781 – 23 April 1832) was a French botanist and naturalist, who specialised in the sunflower family (Asteraceae) (then known as family Compositae). He was the youngest of five children of Jacque ...

— Varingblom * ''

Gerbera ovata ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a South ...

'' J.C.Manning & Simka * ''

Gerbera serrata ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a Sout ...

'' Druce * ''

Gerbera tomentosa ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a So ...

DC. Augustin Pyramus (or Pyrame) de Candolle (, , ; 4 February 17789 September 1841) was a Swiss botanist. René Louiche Desfontaines launched de Candolle's botanical career by recommending him at a herbarium. Within a couple of years de Candolle ...

* ''

Gerbera wrightii ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a Sout ...

'' Harv.

Section ''Lasiopus'' (Cass.) Sch.Bip.

* '' Gerbera ambigua'' Sch.Bip. * ''

Gerbera aurantiaca ''Gerbera aurantiaca'', the Hilton daisy, is a long-lived KwaZulu-Natal mistbelt grassland endemic and is a charismatic species because of its spectacular red flowers. Description The Hilton daisy is a relative of the common Barberton daisy. W ...

'' Sch.Bip. — Hilton daisy * ''

Gerbera galpinii ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a So ...

Klatt Klatt is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Bernard Klatt, former Canadian internet service provider * Bill Klatt (ice hockey) (1947–2011), retired professional ice hockey player *Dennis H. Klatt, (1938–1988), American research ...

— Galpin's gerbera * ''

Bolus Bolus may refer to: Geography * Bolus, Iran, a village in Ardabil Province, Iran * Bolus, or Baulus, an Anatolian village on the site of ancient Berissa Medicine * Bolus (digestion), a ball-shaped mass moving through the digestive tract * Bolus ...

— Barberton daisy, Gerbera daisy, Transvaal daisy * ''

Gerbera sylvicola ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a Sout ...

'' Johnson, N.R.Crouch & T.J.Edwards * ''

Gerbera viridifolia ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a South ...

'' (DC.) Sch.Bip. — Pink gerbera

Section ''Pseudoseris'' (Baill.) Jeffr.

* ''

Gerbera bojeri ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a Sout ...

'' Sch.Bip. — Bojer's gerbera * ''

Gerbera diversifolia ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a So ...

Humbert Humbert, Umbert or Humberto (Latinized ''Humbertus'') is a Germanic given name, from ''hun'' "warrior" and ''beraht'' "bright". It also came into use as a surname. Given name ;Royalty and Middle Ages * Emebert (died 710) * Humbert of Maroilles ...

* ''

Gerbera elliptica ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a So ...

'' Humbert * ''

Gerbera emirnensis ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a Sout ...

Baker A baker is a tradesperson who bakes and sometimes sells breads and other products made of flour by using an oven or other concentrated heat source. The place where a baker works is called a bakery. History Ancient history Since grains ha ...

* ''

Gerbera hypochaeridoides ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a So ...

'' Baker * '' Gerbera leandrii'' Humbert * ''

Gerbera perrieri ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a Sout ...

'' Humbert * ''

Gerbera petasitifolia ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a Sout ...

'' Humbert

Section ''Parva'' H.V.Hansen

* ''

Gerbera parva ''Gerbera'' ( or ) L. is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. The first scientific description of a ''Gerbera'' was made by J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described ''Gerbera jamesonii'', a Sout ...

N.E.Br. Nicholas Edward Brown (11 July 1849 in Redhill, Surrey – 25 November 1934 in Kew Gardens, London) was an English plant taxonomist and authority on succulents. He was also an authority on several families of plants, including Asclepiadacea ...

File:Gerbera viridifolia 1DS-II 3-0777.jpg, ''Gerbera viridifolia'' File:Gerbera jamesonii (Asteraceae).jpg, ''

'' File:Gerbera ambigua.jpg, '' Gerbera ambigua'' File:Hilton Daisy.jpg, ''

'' File:Gerbera wrightii 1DS-II 2-4140.jpg, ''Gerbera wrightii'' File:Gerbera × hybrida 01.JPG, ''Gerbera'' × ''hybrida'' File:Orange Gerbera growing in a pot in Calcutta.jpg, ''Gerbera'' × ''hybrida'' File:Gerbera daisy orange002.jpg, ''Gerbera'' × ''hybrida''

Distribution

''Gerbera'' is native to tropical regions of Africa. It was introduced into countries of Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Uses

''Gerbera'' is very popular and widely used as a decorative garden plant or as cut flowers. The domesticated cultivars are mostly a result of a cross between ''

'' and another South African species ''

''. The cross is known as ''Gerbera × hybrida''. Thousands of cultivars exist. They vary greatly in shape and size. Colours include white, yellow, orange, red, and pink. The centre of the flower is sometimes black. Often the same flower can have

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s of several different colours. The flower-heads (capitula) can be as small as 7 cm (Gerbera 'mini Harley') in diameter or up to 12 cm (Gerbera ‘Golden Serena’). ''Gerbera'' is also important commercially. It is the fifth most used cut flower in the world (after rose, carnation,

chrysanthemum Chrysanthemums (), sometimes called mums or chrysanths, are flowering plants of the genus ''Chrysanthemum'' in the family Asteraceae. They are native to East Asia and northeastern Europe. Most species originate from East Asia and the center ...

, and tulip). It is also used as a

model organism A model organism (often shortened to model) is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the model organism will provide insight into the workin ...

in studying flower formation. ''Gerbera'' contains naturally occurring coumarin derivatives. It is attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds, but resistant to deer. Small ones are called gerbrinis.

References

Sources

* Hansen, Hans V. A taxonomic revision of the genus ''Gerbera'' (Compositae, Mutisieae) sections ''Gerbera'', ''Parva'', ''Piloselloides'' (in Africa), and ''Lasiopus'' (Opera botanica. No. 78; 1985), . * Nesom, G .L. 2004. Response to "The ''Gerbera'' complex (Asteraceae, Mutisieae): to split or not to split" by Liliana Katinas. ''Sida'' 21:941–942. * Bremer K. 1994: ''Asteraceae: cladistics and classification''. Timber Press: Portland, Oregon.

External links

Gerbera.org
��official website of the Gerbera Association—established in Barberton, South Africa

Germany (German) {{Taxonbar, from=Q310654 Asteraceae genera Garden plants Mutisieae