Nemesia caerulea is a blue- to purple- flowered herbaceous perennial member of the family Scrophulariaceae.[1] The plant is native to the Cape Floristic Province of southwestern South Africa, where it grows at low elevations on fully exposed north-facing and northwest-facing slopes in association with other native grasses and forbs.[2] Its chromosome number is 2n=18.[3]
Nemesia caerulea | |
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Nemesia caerulea in South Africa. | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
Genus: | Nemesia |
Species: | N. caerulea |
Binomial name | |
Nemesia caerulea | |
It produces many small flowers in shades of pink, blue and white (the Latin caerulea means "dark blue").[4] The flowers are two-lipped, the upper lip with four lobes and the lower lip with two lobes. In cultivation the two lips are often different colours.[5]
In temperate regions it is usually grown as an annual. The cultivar 'Sea Mist' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[6]
Taxon identifiers |
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