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Nigella damascena
It is an annual garden flowering plant, belonging to the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It grows to 20 - 50 cm tall, with pinnately divided, thread-like, alternate leaves. The flowers, blooming in early summer, are most commonly different shades of blue, but can be white, pink, or pale purple, with 5 - 25 sepals. The actual petals are located at the base of the stamens and are minute and clawed. The sepals are the only colored part of the perianth. The four to five carpels of the compound pistil have each an erect style.
It is native to southern Europe (but adventive in more northern countries of Europe), north Africa and southwest Asia, where it is found on neglected, damp patches of land.
The specific epithet damascena relates to Damascus in Syria. The plant's common name comes from the flower being nestled in a ring of multifid, lacy bracts. Other names: devil-in-the-bush, ragged lady, crnjika.
Spotted on May 23, 2013
Submitted on May 23, 2013
2 Comments
Thank you :)
Beautiful series!