Clustered bellflower

Appearance

''Campanula glomerata'' is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to a height of 20–60 centimetres , with a maximum of 90 centimetres . The stem is simple, erect and shortly pubescent, basal leaves are petiolated, oval-lanceolate and lightly heart-shaped , while cauline leaves are lanceolate, sessile and ''amplexicaul''. The inflorescence is formed by 15-20 sessile, actinomorphic and hermaphrodite single flowers of about 2 to 3 cm. They are in terminal racemes or in the axils of upper leaves, surrounded by an involucre of bracts. The corolla is campanulate and pubescent with five dark violet-blue or purplish-blue petals. Flowering period is from June to September.

Naming

The etymology of this plant is quite intuitive: the genus Latin name , meaning small bell, refers to the bell-shape of the flower, while the specific name refers to the tight grouping of the flowers at the top of the stem.According to WCSP, 15 subspecies are recognized:
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''glomerata'' - Europe to NW. China
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''cervicarioides'' Arcang. - S. Europe
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''serotina'' O.Schwarz - S. Alps
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''farinosa'' Kirschl. - Alps to E. Europe to Kazakhstan
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''elliptica'' Kirschl. - Carpathians to C. Italy and Serbia
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''subcapitata'' Fed. - E. Carpathians
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''hispida'' Hayek - N. Balkan Pen. to Iran
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''caucasica'' Ogan. - NE. Turkey to Caucasus
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''oblongifolia'' Fed. - E. Turkey to NE. Iran
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''oblongifolioides'' Ogan. - Caucasus
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''symphytifolia'' Ogan. - W. Transcaucasus
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''panjutinii'' Victorov - W. Transcaucasus
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''krylovii'' Olonova - W. Siberia
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''daqingshanica'' D.Y.Hong & Y.Z.Zhao - Inner Mongolia
⤷ ''Campanula glomerata'' subsp. ''speciosa'' Domin - S. Siberia to Japan

Distribution

The species is native to the North Temperate Zone of Eurasia, from Europe to Japan. In Europe it is present almost everywhere except the extreme north. In North America the plant is naturalized.

This plant can be found in forests or dry grasslands, in scrub and open woodland, in grassy but not too wet places, in the edges of woods and along the margins of roads and trails. It prefers calcareous soils, at an altitude up to 1,500 m above sea level.

Habitat

The species is native to the North Temperate Zone of Eurasia, from Europe to Japan. In Europe it is present almost everywhere except the extreme north. In North America the plant is naturalized.

This plant can be found in forests or dry grasslands, in scrub and open woodland, in grassy but not too wet places, in the edges of woods and along the margins of roads and trails. It prefers calcareous soils, at an altitude up to 1,500 m above sea level.