Phyteuma orbiculare - Round-headed Rampion

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Asterales - Family: Campanulaceae

Quite a rare sight in Britain, Round-headed Rampion is such a strking wildflower and very unlikely to be overlooked.

Description

This unbranching upright member of the bellflower family is a perennial and usually grows to a height of 30 to 50cm (occasionally to 60cm). Itpoduces beautiful blue compound globe-shaped inflorescences 1.5 to 3cm across. A flower head consists of typically 20m to 30 separateincurved tubular flowers with very tiny apical openiongs. The hairless ribbed stems are unbranching and have larger variable-shaped leaves near the base with smaller lanceolate leaves above.

Distribution

Fairly common and widespread in alpine parts of Europe, in Britain this species is mainly flound on chalk downland in the south of England. (Another of its common names is Pride of Sussex). The specimens shown on this page were seen in Italy during late May.

Habitat

Round-headed Rampion favours rather dry conditions on chalk grassland.

Flowering times

Round-headed Rampion produces flowers from May to August.

Etymology

The specific epithet orbiculare comes from Latin and means orbicular (circular, like a globe).