''Illecebrum'' is a
monotypic genus in the family
Caryophyllaceae. It contains the single species ''Illecebrum verticillatum'', which is a trailing
annual plant
An annual plant is a plant that completes its life cycle, from germination to the production of seeds, within one growing season, and then dies. The length of growing seasons and period in which they take place vary according to geographical ...
native to Europe, with whorls of small white flowers borne in the axils of the paired leaves.
Distribution
''Illecebrum verticillatum'' is native to much of
Europe, from the western
Iberian Peninsula to
Poland;
it is rare in
Great Britain,
and its northernmost station is in
Denmark.
It has also been
introduced species to at least one site in
New Zealand and one site in
Western Australia.
Description
''Illecebrum verticillatum'' produces procumbent or decumbent (trailing)
stems that may be up to high. It has ovate leaves arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The small
flowers are clustered in the
axils of the leaves; their
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 are much smaller than the white
sepals.
Taxonomy
''Illecebrum verticillatum'' was
first described by
Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 ''
Species Plantarum
' (Latin for "The Species of Plants") is a book by Carl Linnaeus, originally published in 1753, which lists every species of plant known at the time, classified into genera. It is the first work to consistently apply binomial names and was the ...
''. It has sometimes been placed in a family of its own, Illecebraceae, but is usually placed in the family
Caryophyllaceae.
The genus name ''Illecebrum'' derives from the
Latin word ', meaning "enticement", although it is unclear how the name came to be applied to a plant such as ''I. verticillatum''.
The
specific epithet
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
' means "whorled",
in reference to the arrangement of the flowers. The plant is sometimes referred to in published works as ''whorled knotweed'' or ''coral necklace'', although it is unclear if these purported
common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...
s are actually used in practice.
References
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q163433, from2=Q159167
Caryophyllaceae
Monotypic Caryophyllaceae genera
Flora of Europe
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus