| Lunaria | |
|---|---|
| |
| L. annua | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Lunaria L. |
| Species | |
|
Lunaria annua - annual honesty | |
Lunaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae. It is native to Europe and has been introduced to North America and elsewhere.[1] Species include:
- L. annua (syn. L. biennis), annual or biennial
- L. rediviva, perennial
- L. telekiana. rare Balkan species[2]
The Latin name Lunaria means "moon-like" and refers to the plants' decorative seedpods.[3]
They have hairy toothed leaves and terminal racemes of white or violet flowers in Spring and Summer, followed by prominent, translucent, disc-shaped seedpods, which are frequently seen in flower arrangements.[2]
They are widely grown as ornamental plants in gardens, and have become naturalised in many temperate areas away from their native habitat.
- ^ "Lunaria Tourn. ex L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 22 April 2023.
- ^ a b RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1-4053-3296-5.
- ^ Coombes, Allen J. (2012). The A to Z of plant names. USA: Timber Press. p. 197. ISBN 978-1-60469-196-2. OCLC 741564356.