Gymnospermium albertii

Gymnospermium albertii
Gymnospermium albertii flowering in the Alpine House, Kew Gardens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Berberidaceae
Genus:	Gymnospermium
Species:	G. albertii
Binomial name
Gymnospermium albertii (Regel) Takht.

Gymnospermium albertii (syn. Leontice alberti) is a species in the genus Gymnospermium in the family Berberidaceae.

Description

Tuberous perennial.

• Height: Flowering stems to about 15 cm high.
• Leaves: Lobed, with five leaflets. Leaves are bronze-tinged and rolled lengthways when young, expanding and turning pale green with maturity.
• Inflorescences:
  • Raceme: Pendent at first, later becoming upright. Densely flowered.
  • Flowers: Each flower measures up to 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter when fully open, but they are more frequently seen in the earlier bell-shaped stage of openness. Flowers are bright yellow with a coppery red exterior.

Close-up of flowers, Kew Gardens

Range

It is native to rocky hillsides in Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan).

Cultivation

Easily raised from seed. Very hardy. Successful in open, well-drained soil. Grows well in unheated glasshouses.

Etymology

Gymnospermium derived from Greek, meaning 'naked seed'. Albertii is named for Johann Albert Von Regel, collector of the type specimen and son of the author of the species, Eduard August von Regel.

Gallery

• 
  Container plant showing flower buds and tightly furled leaves, Gothenburg Botanical Garden
• 
  Container plant coming into bloom (leaves not yet unfurled), Alpine House, RHS Garden,Wisley
• 
  Young flowering stems of wild plants