Botanical Name: Campanula latifolia
Family: Campanulaceae
Subfamily:Campanuloideae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Genus: Campanula
Synonyms:
Marianthemum Schrank
Roucela Dumort
Symphyandra A.DC.
Rapuntia Chevall.
Decaprisma Raf.
Common Names: Belflower or Campanula
Habitat:
Campanula latifolia is native to Europe and western Asia as far east as Kashmir. Its natural habitat is broad-leaved woodland, coppices, parkland and forest margins.
Description:
The species include annual, biennial and perennial plants, and vary in habit from dwarf arctic and alpine species under 5 cm high, to large temperate grassland and woodland species growing to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall.
The leaves are alternate and often vary in shape on a single plant, with larger, broader leaves at the base of the stem and smaller, narrower leaves higher up; the leaf margin may be either entire or serrated (sometimes both on the same plant). Many species contain white latex in the leaves and stems.
The flowers are produced in panicles (sometimes solitary), and have a five-lobed corolla, typically large (2–5 cm or more long), mostly blue to purple, sometimes white or pink. Below the corolla, 5 leaf-like sepals form the calyx. Some species have a small additional leaf-like growth termed an “appendage” between each sepal, and the presence or absence, relative size, and attitude of the appendage is often used to distinguish between closely related species.
The fruit is a capsule containing numerous small seeds.
Edible Uses:
Young shoots – raw or cooked. Contains up to 400mg% of vitamin C. Root – raw. This report is rather vague and needs further investigation. Flowers – raw or cooked. A pleasant sweetness.
Medicinal Uses: The flowers are emetic.
Other Uses:
Campanula species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including common pug (recorded on harebell), dot moth, ingrailed clay (recorded on harebell), lime-speck pug and mouse moth.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campanula
https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Campanula+latifolia
