Calibrachoa
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| Calibrachoa | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Solanaceae |
| Genus: | Calibrachoa Cerv. |
| Species | |
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See text. |
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Calibrachoa is a genus of plants in the Solanaceae (nightshade) family. They are weak evergreen short-lived perennials and subshrubs with a sprawling habit, and they have small petunia-type flowers. They are found across much the same region of South America as petunias, from southern Brazil across to Peru and Chile.
Calibrachoa are closely related to the petunia. However on further examination it has been found that there are major differences in chromosomes, corresponding to external differences and fertilization factors that distinguished Calibrachoa from the petunias. Calibrachoa is named after Antonio de la Cal y Bracho, a 19th century Mexican botanist and pharmacologist.
[edit] Cultivation
Some of these are kept as ornamental plants, the hybrids (Calibrachoa x hybrida) being popularly known as "Million Bells". The plants can tolerate light frost and thrive in sun or semi-shade. Plant in a free-draining soil and water only when the soil is almost dry. Propagate from tip cuttings.
Species include:
- Calibrachoa caesia
- Calibrachoa calycina
- Calibrachoa dusenii
- Calibrachoa eglandulata
- Calibrachoa elegans
- Calibrachoa ericaefolia
- Calibrachoa excellens
- Calibrachoa hassleriana
- Calibrachoa heterophylla
- Calibrachoa humilis
- Calibrachoa linearis
- Calibrachoa parviflora
- Calibrachoa pygmaea
- Calibrachoa rupestris
- Calibrachoa sellowiana
- Calibrachoa spathulata
- Calibrachoa thymifolia
