Meconopsis lancifolia

Meconopsis lancifolia^[1][2][3][4] is a plant species in the genus Meconopsis, in the family Papaveraceae. M. lancifolia is monocarpic, meaning that it flowers only once before dying.^[2]

Description

Height: Though often only 8–20 cm high at maturity, some plants may reach 35 cm while flowering, and up to 42 cm tall while fruiting.^[2]

Stems: Erect stem 3.7–25 cm long, 5-13mm in diameter near the base. Ascending to patent-reflexed, tawny-coloured, soft bristles typically cover the stems, sometimes densely, though occasionally stems may be more or less glabrous.^[2]

Leaves: Entire to slightly sinuate^[2] or pinnately lobed^[3] leaves are borne in a basal rosette,^[2][3] are green or greyish-greey above and are a paler, somewhat glaucous colour beneath, and measure between 2–16-^[2] 25^[3] cm in length, and 0.5-2.2 cm in width, tapering gradually at the base. Leaves are sparsely bristly^[4] or have a variable number of bristles;^[3] bristles are not dark at the base.^[4] Lamina are elliptic-lanceolate to elliptic-oblanceolate, narrow-oblanceolate, or more rarely linear-lanceolate. Petioles are 1.5–9 cm in length.^[2]

Flowers: 2.6-8.2 cm across, with 4-^[2][3] 8-^[3] 11^[2] satiny deep-blue^[2] to violet,^[3] to indigo-purple,^[2][3] more rarely pinkish,^[2] or very rarely light blue^[3] petals. Petals measure 13-32mm x 10-32mm. Flowers June-early August.

Flowers are typically significantly darker than those of Meconopsis grandis or Meconopsis horridula.^[3]

Fruit: oblong-ellipsoid to subcylindric green capsules with purple ribs ripening to brown.^[2]

Cultivation

M. lancifolia does not appear to have ever been in cultivation,^[3] or is rare in cultivation^[4] despite substantial efforts by Forrest. Taylor considered that the generally weak characteristics of the bulbous root implied that it was a difficult plant. However, as it is so widespread, it is genetically quite variable, and so perhaps some forms are more adaptable than others. The standard well-fed, winter dry, summer wet may require some modification for success, with less emphasis on the summer wet.^[3]

Habitat

In the wild, it is particularly associated with limestone habitats,^[3] including stony alpine meadows, rocky slopes, screes, moraines,^[2][3] stony and rocky pastures, open low moorland scrub, and alpine moorland.^[2] Likes less sunny exposures.^[3]

Distribution

Widespread across China,^[3] specifically in western China, from southwest Gansu to northwest Yunnan, east and southeast Tibet, western Sichuan; the Cangshan, Yulongxueshan, and the mountains of the Mekong-Salween and Mekong-Yangtze divides.^[2]

Also native to north Myanmar.^[2]

Etymology

Mekon from the Greek for 'poppy', opsis 'like'– Meconopsis 'poppy-like'. Lancifolia, 'with sharply pointed leaves'.^[5]

References