Hesperis

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}

{{See also|Hesperis (mythology)}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Hesperis matronalis flowers.jpg

|image_caption = Hesperis matronalis

|taxon = Hesperis

|authority = L.

}}

Hesperis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae. Most are native to Eurasia, with several endemic to Greece and Turkey. Many plants of this genus bear showy, fragrant flowers in shades of purple and white. One of the more widely known species is the common garden flower Hesperis matronalis.

The genus name Hesperis was probably given because the scent of the flowers becomes more conspicuous towards evening (Hespera is the Greek word for evening).{{Cite book |author1=Britton, N. F. |author2=Brown, Addison | title=An illustrated flora of the northern United States and Canada: from Newfoundland to the parallel of the southern boundary of Virginia, and from the Atlantic Ocean westward to the 102d meridian |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedflora702brit |url-access=registration | date=1970 | publisher=Dover Publications | location=New York | isbn=978-0-486-22643-9 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedflora702brit/page/175 175]}}

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus Hesperis:{{Cite web |title=Hesperis L. {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60436426-2 |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Plants of the World Online |language=en}}

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Classical literature source

Classical literature source for the plant Hesperis:

  • Pliny, Natural History 21. 18 ff (trans. Bostock & Riley) (Roman historian C1st AD)

References

{{Reflist}}

  • [https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id422174/]