Meconopsis lancifolia
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| Meconopsis lancifolia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Papaveraceae |
| Genus: | Meconopsis |
| Species: | M. lancifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Meconopsis lancifolia (Franch.) Franch. ex Prain | |
Meconopsis lancifolia[1][2][3][4] is a plant species in the genus Meconopsis, in the family Papaveraceae. M. lancifolia is monocarpic, meaning that it flowers only once before dying.[2]
Height: Though often only 8–20 cm high at maturity, some plants may reach 35 cm while flowering, and up to 42 cm tall while fruiting.[2]
Stems: Erect stem 3.7–25 cm long, 5–13 mm in diameter near the base. Ascending to patent-reflexed, tawny-coloured, soft bristles typically cover the stems, sometimes densely, though occasionally stems may be more or less glabrous.[2]
Leaves: Entire to slightly sinuate[2] or pinnately lobed[3] leaves are borne in a basal rosette,[2][3] are green or greyish-green above and are a paler, somewhat glaucous colour beneath, and measure between 2–16-[2] 25[3] cm in length, and 0.5-2.2 cm in width, tapering gradually at the base. Leaves are sparsely bristly[4] or have a variable number of bristles;[3] bristles are not dark at the base.[4] Lamina are elliptic-lanceolate to elliptic-oblanceolate, narrow-oblanceolate, or more rarely linear-lanceolate. Petioles are 1.5–9 cm in length.[2]
Flowers: 2.6–8.2 cm across, with 4–[2][3] 8–[3] 11[2] satiny deep-blue[2] to violet,[3] to indigo-purple,[2][3] more rarely pinkish,[2] or very rarely light blue[3] petals. Petals measure 13–32 mm x 10–32 mm. Flowers June–early August.
Flowers are typically significantly darker than those of Meconopsis grandis or Meconopsis horridula.[3]
Fruit: oblong-ellipsoid to subcylindric green capsules with purple ribs ripening to brown.[2]
Cultivation
Meconopsis lancifolia does not appear to have ever been in cultivation,[3] or is rare in cultivation[4] despite substantial efforts by Forrest.[who?] Taylor[who?] considered that the generally weak characteristics of the bulbous root implied that it was a difficult plant. However, as it is so widespread, it is genetically quite variable, and so perhaps some forms are more adaptable than others. The standard well-fed, winter dry, summer wet may require some modification for success, with less emphasis on the summer wet.[3]