Asperula taurina
| Asperula taurina | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Asperula |
| Species: | A. taurina
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| Binomial name | |
| Asperula taurina | |
Asperula taurina is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae.[1] It was first described in 1753 and is native to Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Crimea, Romania, Switzerland, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro. It was also introduced to Denmark, Germany, and Great Britain.[2][3]
Taxonomy
[edit]Asperula taurina was described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1753 book Species Plantarum.[4] There are three recognized subspecies: A. t. taurina, A. t. caucasica ,and A. t. leucanthera.[5] The species is known as Aspérule de Turin or Grande Croisette in French, Asperla da Turin in Raeto-Romance, Stellina cruciata in Italian, and Turiner Waldmeister in German.[6]
Description
[edit]The plant is a medium-sized herb that grows to heights of 20–60 cm and has an erect, hairy stem. The leaves grow in whorls of four and are lanceolate to oval, with a length of 3 cm and a width of over 4 mm. The flowers are white with corollas over 8 mm long and grow in dense bunches at the end of a branch.[5]
The related Asperula laevigata has smaller leaves and shorter corollas less than 3 mm long. Galium rubioides is a larger plant that grows as tall as 1 metre, with longer leaves and a denser inflorescence.[5]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]It has a large range and is found in many parts of Europe. It is native to France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, the Balkans, Crimea, Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus. It has been introduced to Germany, Poland, Great Britain, Denmark, and Ireland. A former record from Spain is thought to be erroneous.[3]
It is a subalpine plant. In France, it is rare and prefers undergrowth and forest edge in mountainous areas with basic soil.[5]
Ecology
[edit]Asperula taurina is a perennial herb that grows rhizomes and is hermaphroditic. It is pollinated by insects.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Asperula taurina". Archived from the original on 2020-06-03.
- ^ "International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ^ a b "Asperula taurina L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ^ Linné, Carl von; Salvius, Lars (1753). Species plantarum. Stockholm: Impensis Laurentii Salvii. p. 103. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.669.
- ^ a b c d e "Aspérule de Turin, Grande Croisette (Français)". Inventaire national du patrimoine naturel. 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Asperula taurina". World Flora Online. 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- Asperula
- Flora of Albania
- Flora of Austria
- Flora of Bulgaria
- Flora of France
- Flora of Greece
- Flora of Hungary
- Flora of Iran
- Flora of Italy
- Flora of the Crimean Peninsula
- Flora of Romania
- Flora of Switzerland
- Flora of Georgia (country)
- Flora of Armenia
- Flora of Azerbaijan
- Flora of Turkey
- Flora of Slovenia
- Flora of Croatia
- Flora of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Flora of Serbia
- Flora of Montenegro