White asphodel
Encyclopedia
Asphodelus albus, common name White asphodel, is a herbaceous
perennial
plant belonging to the genus Asphodelus
.
s). The leaves, which originate from the base of the stem, are gutter-shaped and glaucous
(covered by a waxy coating), about 20–22 mm (0.78740157480315–0.866141732283465 ) wide and 50–70 cm (19.7–27.6 ) long. The white hermaphroditic flowers are funnel-shaped, 4 centimetres (1.6 in) of diameter, with six elongated petals. The flowering period extends from April through June. The egg-shaped yellow-green seed capsules are usually 8–10 mm (0.31496062992126–0.393700787401575 ) in length.
and heathland
of central Spain
, southwest France
, and along the southern Alps
to the western Balkans
up to an altitude of 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft). It is also found on the continent Africa, mainly in Libyan territory. Soils with a high lime
content are preferred.
, white asphodel was associated with mourning and death. Its presence was held to facilitate the transition of the dead to Elysium
, and it is a feature of the Asphodel Meadows
.
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
perennial
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
plant belonging to the genus Asphodelus
Asphodelus
Asphodelus is a genus of mainly perennial plants native to western, central and southern Europe, but now spread worldwide. Asphodels are popular garden plants, which grow in well-drained soils with abundant natural light...
.
Description
White asphodel grows to a height of 50–120 cm (19.7–47.2 ). The plain stem is supported by fleshy, thickened roots (rhizomeRhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
s). The leaves, which originate from the base of the stem, are gutter-shaped and glaucous
Glaucous
Glaucous is used to describe the pale grey or bluish-green appearance of the surfaces of some plants, as well as in the names of birds, such as the Glaucous Gull , Glaucous-winged Gull , Glaucous Macaw , and Glaucous...
(covered by a waxy coating), about 20–22 mm (0.78740157480315–0.866141732283465 ) wide and 50–70 cm (19.7–27.6 ) long. The white hermaphroditic flowers are funnel-shaped, 4 centimetres (1.6 in) of diameter, with six elongated petals. The flowering period extends from April through June. The egg-shaped yellow-green seed capsules are usually 8–10 mm (0.31496062992126–0.393700787401575 ) in length.
Habitat
White asphodel is commonly found in meadowsGrassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
and heathland
Heath (habitat)
A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...
of central Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, southwest France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and along the southern Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
to the western Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
up to an altitude of 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft). It is also found on the continent Africa, mainly in Libyan territory. Soils with a high lime
Lime (mineral)
Lime is a general term for calcium-containing inorganic materials, in which carbonates, oxides and hydroxides predominate. Strictly speaking, lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. It is also the name for a single mineral of the CaO composition, occurring very rarely...
content are preferred.
In culture
In Ancient GreeceAncient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
, white asphodel was associated with mourning and death. Its presence was held to facilitate the transition of the dead to Elysium
Elysium
Elysium is a conception of the afterlife that evolved over time and was maintained by certain Greek religious and philosophical sects, and cults. Initially separate from Hades, admission was initially reserved for mortals related to the gods and other heroes...
, and it is a feature of the Asphodel Meadows
Asphodel Meadows
The Asphodel Meadows is a section of the Ancient Greek underworld where indifferent and ordinary souls were sent to live after death.-Geography:...
.
Subspecies
- Asphodelus albus subsp. villarsii (Verl. ex Billot) I. Richardson & Smythies
- Asphodelus albus subsp. carpetanus
- Asphodelus albus subsp. delphinensis
- Asphodelus albus subsp. occidentalis