Bergenia purpurascens (Hook. f. & Thoms.) Engl.

Family Description

Herbs. Basal leaves sometimes rosetted, stem leaves alternate, rarely opposite, simple, pinnate or ternate, exstipulate but sometimes with stipule-like sheathing petiole bases. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, or sometimes unisexual, solitary or in cymes, racemes or panicles. Calyx of 4-5 sepals, often united at base and adnate to ovary. Petals usually 5, free, sometimes absent. Stamens 5-10, free. Ovary superior or semi-inferior 1-2-celled, styles 2, ± diverging. Fruit a capsule; seeds numerous on axile or parietal placentas.

Genus Description

Perennial herbs with thick rhizomes. Leaves rosetted, simple, gland-dotted beneath, petiolate, base of petiole with sheathing flap on either side. Inflorescence paniculate, branches cymose. Calyx cup-shaped, adnate to overy, lobes 5. Petals 5. Stamens 10, alternate ones slightly unequal in length. Ovary semi-inferior, carpels 2, diverging and dehiscing ventrally at maturity.

Species description

Flowers stems 7-30cm, reddish brown, glandular-pubescent. Leaves elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 7-25 x 5-17cm, rounded, base cuneate or rounded, margin entire or shallowly sinuate, glabrous or ciliate near base; petioles 1.5-10cm, basal 1-4cm sheathing. Flowers 1-8, nodding. Calyx 8-14mm, dull crimson, lobes oblong, rounded. Petals obovate, 15-25 x 7-9mm, tapering to a basal claw 2-3mm, bright pink. Stamens 9-14mm, ± as long, base surrounded by persistent calyx.