Darmera
Encyclopedia
Darmera peltata is the only species
within the genus
Darmera in the family Saxifragaceae
. It is a slowly-spreading rhizomatous perennial from mountain streamsides in woodland in the western United States
(southwestern Oregon
to northwestern California
).
In late spring the flowers emerge before the leaves, with rounded cymes of numerous five-petalled white to bright pink flowers (measuring up to 1.5cm across each) borne on flower stems up to 2m long. The leaves are peltate, rounded, deeply lobed, coarsely-toothed, conspicuously veined and dark green, also on stems up to 2m in height. The leaves turn red in autumn.
In gardens, Darmera peltata flourishes in pond margins and bog gardens, where it forms an imposing umbrella-like clump. It is suited to smaller gardens where there is no room for Gunnera manicata
or Gunnera tinctoria
, unrelated plants that are somewhat similar in appearance, but much larger.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
within the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Darmera in the family Saxifragaceae
Saxifragaceae
Saxifragaceae is a plant family with about 460 known species in 36 genera. In Europe there are 12 genera.The flowers are hermaphroditic and actinomorphic...
. It is a slowly-spreading rhizomatous perennial from mountain streamsides in woodland in the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(southwestern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
to northwestern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
).
In late spring the flowers emerge before the leaves, with rounded cymes of numerous five-petalled white to bright pink flowers (measuring up to 1.5cm across each) borne on flower stems up to 2m long. The leaves are peltate, rounded, deeply lobed, coarsely-toothed, conspicuously veined and dark green, also on stems up to 2m in height. The leaves turn red in autumn.
In gardens, Darmera peltata flourishes in pond margins and bog gardens, where it forms an imposing umbrella-like clump. It is suited to smaller gardens where there is no room for Gunnera manicata
Gunnera manicata
Gunnera manicata, or giant rhubarb, a native of Brazil, is an ornamental plant in the Gunneraceae family.The underside of the leaf and the whole stalk have spikes on them. The leaves of Gunnera grow to an impressive size...
or Gunnera tinctoria
Gunnera tinctoria
Gunnera tinctoria, the Chilean rhubarb, is a plant species native to southern Chile and neighbour zones in Argentina. It is a large-leaved perennial plant that grows up to two metres tall. It is introduced in large parts of the world as an ornamental and edible plant...
, unrelated plants that are somewhat similar in appearance, but much larger.