''Hesperocodon hederaceus'',

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

''Wahlenbergia hederacea'', also known as the ivy-leaved bellflower, is a species of flowering plant that is found throughout Europe. It is the only species in the genus ''Hesperocodon''. The delicate, patch-forming, hairless perennial herb has thin, creeping stems about 20 cm in length. Its pale green leaves are long-stalked and have an ivy-shaped, rounded structure. These leaves can be described as having a

cordate Cordate is an adjective meaning 'heart-shaped' and is most typically used for: * Cordate (leaf shape), in plants * Cordate axe, a prehistoric stone tool See also * Chordate A chordate () is an animal of the phylum Chordata (). All chordat ...

shape and are approximately 5–12 mm long and wide. The plant has erect, solitary, pale blue flowers in summer and autumn, with bell-shaped corolla with 5 short lobes. The flowers are 6–10 mm long x 5–8 mm wide and sit on fine stalks 1–4 cm long. It is suggested that the long

pedicels In botany, a pedicel is a stem that attaches a single flower to the inflorescence. Such inflorescences are described as ''pedicellate''. Description Pedicel refers to a structure connecting a single flower to its inflorescence. In the absenc ...

are an adaptation to assist in seed dispersal.

Habitat

''Hesperocodon hederaceus'' is found in cool, moist and boggy, partially-shaded areas, typically with acidic soils, such as woodlands, streams, pastures, heaths and beside

rivulet A stream is a continuous body of surface water flowing within the bed and banks of a channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to by a variety of local or regional names. Long large streams are ...

s. The plant thrives in short-grassed areas beside streams, with moist, acidic soils, and is almost never found in basic soils and stagnant water. They usually occur in small, scattered groups. The abundance of the ivy-leaved bellflower has been declining throughout the 1900s due to the loss of their habitat.

Distribution

''Hesperocodon hederaceus'' is native to Europe and commonly found in Southern

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, and

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, but also in

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, Western

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Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

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, Western

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, and

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Gallery

File:Wahlenbergia hederacea.jpg, File:Wahlenbergia hederacea illustration (01).jpg, File:Wahlenbergia hederacea ellywa.png

References

External links

* * * {{Taxonbar, from1=Q95498715, from2=Q95498716, from3=Q3565131, from4=Q21872141 Campanulaceae Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Campanulaceae genera