Appearance
"Campanula medium" reaches approximately 60–80 cm in height. This biennial herbaceous plant forms rosettes of leaves in the first year, stems and flowers in the second one. The stem is erect, robust, reddish-brown and bristly hairy. The basal leaves are stalked and lanceolate to elliptical and 12–15 cm long with serrated leaf edge. The upper leaves are smaller, lanceolate and sessile, almost embracing the stem.The flowers are arranged in a racemose inflorescence of extremely long-lasting blooms. These attractive bell-shaped flowers are short-stalked, large and hermaphroditic, with different shades of violet-blue or rarely white. The corolla has five fused petals with lightly bent lobes.
The flowering period extends from May to July in the Northern Hemisphere. The flowers are either self-fertilized or pollinated by insects such as bees and butterflies. The seeds ripen from August to September and are dispersed by gravity alone.
Naming
The specific epithet "medium" means that this plant has intermediate characteristics in respect of other species of the genus "Campanula". In Persian, it is called meaning "glass flower", because the flower resembles a drinking glass.Distribution
"Campanula medium" originates in southern Europe. It is naturalized in most of European countries and in North America and it is widely cultivated for its beautiful flowers.Habitat
It grows on stony, rocky and bushy slopes, at an altitude of 0–1,500 metres above sea level.Uses
This flower works well cut in floral arrangements. Beekeepers sometimes use the Canterbury Bell for making potently sweet honey.References:
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