Cerinthe major

Cerinthe major, called honeywort along with other members of its genus, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Cerinthe, native to the Mediterranean region, and introduced to New Zealand.[2] Gardeners have a choice along a spectrum of cultivars ranging from the plain Cerinthe major, with sea-green bracts and yellow flowers, to Cerinthe major subsp. purpurascens with blue bracts and purple flowers.[3]

Cerinthe major
In bloom
A particularly dark cultivar of Cerinthe major subsp. purpurascens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Boraginales
Family:	Boraginaceae
Genus:	Cerinthe
Species:	C. major
Binomial name
Cerinthe major L.[1]
Synonyms[2]
List Ceranthe acuta (Moench) Opiz Cerinthe acuta Moench Cerinthe alpina Vis. Cerinthe aperta Lojac. Cerinthe aperta Clairv. Cerinthe aspera Roth Cerinthe glabra subsp. longiflora (Viv.) Kerguélen Cerinthe glauca Moench Cerinthe gymnandra Gasp. Cerinthe gymnandra Tod. ex Lojac. Cerinthe gymnandra var. quichiotis Carrasco Cerinthe longiflora Viv. Cerinthe major var. elegans Fiori Cerinthe major subsp. elegans (Fiori) Giardina & Raimondo Cerinthe major f. pseudopallida Pamp. Cerinthe major f. pseudosemipurpurea Pamp. Cerinthe strigosa Rchb. Cerinthe versicolor Hallier ex Steud.

Subspecies

The following subspecies are currently accepted:[2]

• Cerinthe major subsp. major
• Cerinthe major subsp. oranensis (Batt.) Selvi & L.Cecchi
• Cerinthe major subsp. purpurascens (Boiss.) Selvi & L.Cecchi

• 
  The synonymous Cerinthe gymnandra with white flowers
• 
  In a garden setting
• 
  Close-up of flower
• 
  Botanical illustration

References

1. Sp. Pl.: 136 (1753)
2. "Cerinthe major L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
3. Land, Leslie (January 2003). New York Times One Thousand Gardening Questions and Answers. p. 33. ISBN 9780761128861.