Petunia
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 Petunia x hybrida flower
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Petunia is a trumpet shaped, widely-cultivated genus of flowering plants of South American origin, in the family Solanaceae. The popular flower got its name from French, which took the word petun 'tobacco' from a Tupi-Guarani language. Most of the varieties seen in gardens are hybrids (Petunia x hybrida)[1].
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[edit] Origin
The origin of P. x hybrida is thought to be by hybridization between P. axillaris (the large white or night-scented petunia) and P. integrifolia (the violet-flowered petunia). P. axillaris bears night-fragrant, buff-white blossoms with long, thin tubes and somewhat flattened openings. The species was first sent from South America to Paris in 1823. P. integrifolia has a somewhat weedy habit, spreading stems with upright tips, and small lavender to purple flowers. It was discovered in South America by the explorer James Tweedie, after whom the genus Tweedia is named, who sent specimens to the Glasgow Botanical Garden in 1831. Many open-pollinated species are also gaining popularity in the home garden.[2] A wide range of flower colors, sizes, and plant architectures are available in both the hybrid and open-pollinated species.[3]
[edit] Classification
Some botanists place the plants of the genus Calibrachoa in the genus Petunia[4]. Botanically speaking, tobacco, tomato, potato, and petunia are all in the family Solanaceae[5].
Petunias are generally insect pollinated with the exception of P. exserta, which is a rare, red-flowered, hummingbird pollinated species. Most petunias are diploid with 14 chromosomes and are infertile with other petunia species.[citation needed]
The foliage of Petunias is sometimes eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Dot Moth and Hummingbird hawk moth.[citation needed]
[edit] Categories
[edit] Grandiflora
This type of petunias has the largest flowers, up to 4 inches in diameter. Of all the petunias these have the widest variety of forms and colors but are the most likely to be damaged by heavy rain. There are four types of grandiflora and they are classified by their colors, namely, ‘Daddy Series’ (shades of pink and purple), ‘Merlin Blue Morn’ (blue and white), ‘Supercascade Series’ (many colors) and ‘Ultra Series’ (many colors including bicolor)[6].
[edit] Spreading
Spreading petunias (sometimes called groundcover[7]) are characterized by their low height (usually about six inches), but a large spread (about three to four feet). They will cover a large area provided they have adequate water and fertilization. ‘Purple Wave’ was the first introduced cultivar of spreading petunias and grows to a height of 4 inches. ‘Tidal Wave’ is another spreading type of petunia, but is much taller (between sixteen and twenty two inches). ‘Opera Supreme’ is a cultivar with large flowers[8].
[edit] Mulitflora
Multiflora, when compared to grandiflora are half the size, 2 inches in diameter, they are not easily damaged in heavy rain and can tolerate more sun. Multiflora petunias cultivars include: 'Carpet Series' (many colors), 'Surfinia Series' (pink, blue, purple and white), and 'Wave Series' (pink, coral and purple). These spread quickly and are ideal for hanging baskets.[9]
[edit] Milliflora
Milliflora are the smallest of the petunias and about 1 inch across. These are prettiest when mixed with other plants in containers, along garden beds, and edges. Milliflora are available in 'Fantasy Series' (red, purple, pink) and are the easiest to find. 'Supertunia Mini Series' (blue, pink, lilac, purple and white)are also available in the milliflora catagory. They tolerate harsh weather better when compared to grandifloras and multifloras[10].
[edit] Gallery
 Purple Petunia |
 Basket of petunias |
 Multicolored petunias |
 Overflowing Petunias |
 Yellow Shock Wave Petunias |
 Purple Petunias |
[edit] References
- ^ Winterrowd, Wayne. Annuals and Tender Plants for North American Gardens. New York. Random House. 2004. Print.
- ^ Allan M. Armitage, Armitage's Manual of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials (Portland: Timber Press, 2001).
- ^ Ellis, Barbara W. Taylor's guide to annuals. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1999. Print.
- ^ Ellis, Barbara W. Taylor's guide to annuals. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1999. Print.
- ^ “Classification for Kingdom Plantae Down to Family Solanaceae”. Natural Resources Conservation Service. United States Department of Agriculture. 2009. Web. July 8, 2009. <http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=display&classid=Solanaceae>
- ^ Engebreston, Don., Williamson, Don. Annuals for Minnesota and Wisconsin. Lone Pine Publishing. 2004. Print.
- ^ Brown, Deborah. “Growing Petunias” University of Minnesota Extension Office. University of Minnesota. 2009. Web. 25 June 2009. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1120.html
- ^ Russ, Karen. “Petunia”. Clemson Extension. Clemson University. September, 2007. Web. July 1, 2009<http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/flowers/hgic1171.html>
- ^ Engebreston, Don., Williamson, Don. Annuals for Minnesota and Wisconsin. Lone Pine Publishing. 2004. Print.
- ^ Engebreston, Don., Williamson, Don. Annuals for Minnesota and Wisconsin. Lone Pine Publishing. 2004. Print.
