Campanulaceae

views updated May 14 2018

Campanulaceae A family of (mostly) herbs in which the leaves are alternate, simple, and exstipulate. The flowers are regular, usually bell-shaped, with the corolla lobes fixed together below. The inferior ovary is 2–10-celled, with many ovules. The fruit is usually a capsule. Campanula (bellflowers) is a genus of more than 300 species, with erect stems, and blue, purple, or white flowers; many of these species are cultivated. There are 87 genera, with 1950 species; they are of almost cosmopolitan, but mostly temperate, distribution.

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences MICHAEL ALLABY

campanula

views updated Jun 11 2018

campanula (pl. campanulae). Miniature bell-shaped form, such as conic guttae in the Doric Order, or the elements beneath the eaves of a pagoda or other building in the style of Chinoiserie.

A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture JAMES STEVENS CURL

campanulaceae

views updated May 29 2018

campanulaceae Bellflower family of herbaceous flowering plants. There are c.300 species, including harebell, Canterbury bell, Coventry bell, peach bellflower and clustered bellflower. They are cultivated extensively for their delicate blossoms, often a pale or purplish blue in colour.

World Encyclopedia

campanula

views updated May 23 2018

campanula genus of plants with bell-shaped flowers. XVII. — modL., dim. of campāna; see prec. and -ULE.
So campanulate bell-shaped XVII; see -ATE 2.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD