The genus Circaea contains 7-10 species of flowering plant

Flowering plant

The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...

s, known as Enchanter's nightshade. They are woodland plants occurring throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere

The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...

. Two species are widespread, Broad-leaved Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana

Circaea lutetiana

Circaea lutetiana is a plant in the evening primrose family, Onagraceae.The genus name comes from the enchantress Circe of Greek mythology and the generic designation is derived from Lutetia, the Latin name for Paris. Paris at one time was known as the "Witch City"...

) and Alpine Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea alpina). In addition, there is an intermediate hybrid between these two, and several local species or subspecies, with between eight and 14 forms recognised by different authorities. The hybrid is sterile, persisting only by vegetative reproduction

Vegetative reproduction

Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants. It is a process by which new individuals arise without production of seeds or spores...

 and not producing seed

Seed

A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...

s.

This plant spreads its seeds by producing burr

Burr (fruit)

A bur is a seed or dry fruit in which the seeds bear hooks or teeth which attach themselves to fur or clothing of passing animals or people. The hooks or teeth can be irritants and very hard to get off of clothing, such as wool or cotton...

s that adhere to clothing, fur and feathers.

Circaea is in the family Onagraceae

Onagraceae

Onagraceae, also known as the Willowherb family or Evening Primrose family, are a family of flowering plants. The family includes about 640-650 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees in 20-24 genera...

, which also includes willowherbs, evening primroses and fuchsias.
The genus is named after the enchantress Circe

Circe

In Greek mythology, Circe is a minor goddess of magic , described in Homer's Odyssey as "The loveliest of all immortals", living on the island of Aeaea, famous for her part in the adventures of Odysseus.By most accounts, Circe was the daughter of Helios, the god of the sun, and Perse, an Oceanid...

 from Greek mythology

Greek mythology

Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...

, who is supposed to have used enchanter's nightshade in her magic. Enchanter's nightshade is not related to the nightshade family that includes deadly nightshade

Deadly nightshade

Atropa belladonna or Atropa bella-donna, commonly known as Belladonna, Devil's Berries, Death Cherries or Deadly Nightshade, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Solanaceae, native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. The foliage and berries are extremely toxic, containing tropane...

 and the Solanum

Solanum

Solanum, the nightshades, horsenettles and relatives, is a large and diverse genus of annual and perennial plants. They grow as forbs, vines, subshrubs, shrubs, and small trees, and often have attractive fruit and flowers. Many formerly independent genera like Lycopersicon or Cyphomandra are...

 genus (the Solanaceae

Solanaceae

Solanaceae are a family of flowering plants that include a number of important agricultural crops as well as many toxic plants. The name of the family comes from the Latin Solanum "the nightshade plant", but the further etymology of that word is unclear...

).

Species

• Circaea alpina (Alpine Enchanter's-nightshade)
  • Circaea alpina subsp. alpina
  • Circaea alpina subsp. angustifolia
  • Circaea alpina subsp. caulescens
  • Circaea alpina subsp. imaicola
  • Circaea alpina subsp. micrantha
  • Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica
• Circaea canadensis (syn. C. lutetiana subsp. canadensis)
• Circaea cordata
• Circaea erubescens
• Circaea glabrescens
• Circaea lutetiana
  Circaea lutetiana
  Circaea lutetiana is a plant in the evening primrose family, Onagraceae.The genus name comes from the enchantress Circe of Greek mythology and the generic designation is derived from Lutetia, the Latin name for Paris. Paris at one time was known as the "Witch City"...
  
  (Enchanter's-nightshade)
• Circaea mollis
• Circaea quadrisulcata (syn. C. canadensis subsp. quadrisulcata)
• Circaea repens

Hybrids

• Circaea × intermedia (C. alpina × C. lutetiana) (Upland Enchanter's-nightshade)

External links

• Natural England. Accessed July 2011
• English Country Garden Accessed July 2011
• Plant Identification UK Accessed July 2011