''Anagallis'' is a formerly recognized genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Primulaceae The Primulaceae ( ), commonly known as the primrose family (but not related to the Onagraceae, evening primrose family), are a family (biology), family of Herbaceous plant, herbaceous and woody flowering plants including some favourite garden pla ...

. It had about 20–25 species, commonly called pimpernels.

Molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

studies showed that ''Anagallis'' was embedded in the genus ''

Lysimachia ''Lysimachia'' ( ) is a genus consisting of 182 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family w ...

'', so its species were transferred to that genus. The

scarlet pimpernel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with her husband Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in Lo ...

referred to in literature was part of this genus.

Taxonomy

The genus name ''Anagallis'' is from the Greek ( 'again') and ( 'to delight in'), and it refers to the opening and closing of the flowers in response to environmental conditions.

studies have shown that as then

circumscribed In geometry, a circumscribed circle for a set of points is a circle passing through each of them. Such a circle is said to ''circumscribe'' the points or a polygon formed from them; such a polygon is said to be ''inscribed'' in the circle. * Circum ...

neither ''Anagallis'' nor the related genus ''

'' were

monophyletic In biological cladistics for the classification of organisms, monophyly is the condition of a taxonomic grouping being a clade – that is, a grouping of organisms which meets these criteria: # the grouping contains its own most recent co ...

. Accordingly in 2009, it was proposed to merge ''Anagallis'' (together with two other small genera) into ''

''. Names in that genus were published for all ''Anagallis'' species. , the merger was accepted by

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

, among other taxonomic databases.

Some former species

Species formerly placed in ''Anagallis'' include: *''Anagallis acuminata'' = '' Lysimachia acuminata'' *''Anagallis alternifolia'' = '' Lysimachia amoena'' *''Anagallis arvensis'' = ''

Lysimachia arvensis ''Lysimachia arvensis'', synonym (taxonomy), syn. ''Anagallis arvensis'', commonly known as scarlet pimpernel, red pimpernel, red chickweed, poor man's barometer, poor man's weather-glass, shepherd's weather glass or shepherd's clock, is a spec ...

'' – scarlet pimpernel, red pimpernel *''Anagallis barbata'' = '' Lysimachia barbata'' *''Anagallis brevipes'' = '' Lysimachia brevipes'' *''Anagallis crassifolia'' = '' Lysimachia tyrrhenia'' *''Anagallis djalonis '' = '' Lysimachia djalonis'' *''Anagallis filiformis'' = '' Lysimachia filiformis'' *''Anagallis foemina'' = ''

Lysimachia foemina ''Lysimachia foemina'' is commonly known as blue pimpernel or poor man's weatherglass, and was formerly called ''Anagallis foemina''. It is a low-growing annual herbaceous plant in the genus ''Lysimachia'' of the family Primulaceae. In a compari ...

'' – blue pimpernel *''Anagallis gracilipes'' = '' Lysimachia gracilipes'' *''Anagallis hexamera'' = ''

Lysimachia hexamera ''Lysimachia'' ( ) is a genus consisting of 182 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family was ...

'' *''Anagallis kingaensis '' = '' Lysimachia kingaensis'' *''Anagallis minima'' = ''

Lysimachia minima ''Lysimachia minima'' (chaffweed) is a 1-4 inch (2–10 cm) perennial herb in the primula family (Primulaceae). A cosmopolitan species, this small plant is native widely across North America and Eurasia. It can be found growing in moi ...

'' – chaffweed *''Anagallis monelli'' = ''

Lysimachia monelli ''Lysimachia monelli'', the blue pimpernel or garden pimpernel (formerly known as ''Anagallis monelli'') is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to the Mediterranean region (in the Iberian Peninsula, Northwest Africa, Co ...

'' *''Anagallis nummulariifolia'' = '' Lysimachia nummulariifolia'' *''Anagallis oligantha '' = '' Lysimachia oligantha'' *''Anagallis peploides'' = '' Lysimachia peploides'' *''Anagallis pumila'' = ''

Lysimachia ovalis ''Lysimachia'' ( ) is a genus consisting of 182 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family was ...

'' – Florida pimpernel *''Anagallis rubricaulis'' = ''

Lysimachia rubricaulis ''Lysimachia'' ( ) is a genus consisting of 182 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family was ...

'' *''Anagallis schliebenii'' = ''

Lysimachia schliebenii ''Lysimachia'' ( ) is a genus consisting of 182 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family was ...

'' *''Anagallis serpens'' = ''

Lysimachia serpens ''Lysimachia'' ( ) is a genus consisting of 182 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family was ...

'' *''Anagallis tenella'' = ''

Lysimachia tenella ''Lysimachia tenella'', synonym ''Anagallis tenella'', known in Britain as the bog pimpernel, is a low growing perennial plant found in a variety of damp habitats from calcareous dune slacks to boggy and peaty heaths in western and southern Eur ...

'' – bog pimpernel *''Anagallis tenuicaulis'' = ''

Lysimachia tenuicaulis ''Lysimachia'' ( ) is a genus consisting of 182 accepted species of flowering plants traditionally classified in the family Primulaceae. Based on a molecular phylogenetic study it was transferred to the family Myrsinaceae, before this family was ...

'' *''Anagallis tsaratananae '' = '' Lysimachia tsaratananae''

References

{{Reflist File:Scarlet pimpernel 800.jpg, Scarlet pimpernel (''Lysimachia arvensis'', syn. ''Anagallis arvensis'') File:Anagallis arvensis 2.jpg, Flower of scarlet pimpernel (''Lysimachia arvensis'', syn. ''Anagallis arvensis'') File:Anagallis foemina garganta y envés.jpg, Blue pimpernel (''Lysimachia foemina'', syn. ''Anagallis foemina'') Primulaceae Historically recognized angiosperm genera