''Androsace'', commonly known as rock jasmine, is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

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 ...

, second only to ''

Primula ''Primula'' () is a genus of herbaceous plant, herbaceous flowering plants in the family (biology), family Primulaceae. They include the primrose (''Primula vulgaris, P. vulgaris''), a familiar wildflower of banks and verges. Other common specie ...

'' in the number of species. It is predominantly Arctic–alpine, with many species in the Himalayas (where the genus originated), the mountains of central Asia, the Caucasus, and the southern and central European mountain systems, particularly the Alps and the Pyrenees. Plants of this genus are sometimes known as rock jasmines or fairy candelabras, and are widely cultivated for their dense cushions covered in white or pink flowers. There are roughly 110 species. These plants have small entire or toothed leaves which form a basal rosette.

Taxonomy

Recent molecular studies show that the genera ''Douglasia'' (found in north-western North America and easternmost Siberia), '' Pomatosace'' (an Himalayan endemic) and ''Vitaliana'' (a European

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

) are nested within ''Androsace''. Phylogenetic studies have also demonstrated that the ancestor of ''Androsace'' first appeared about 35 Mya ago and was most probably an annual species. Evolution towards the denser morphology of cushions took place two times independently in

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

and in Europe.

Species

, ''

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 ...

'' recognizes the following 166 species, including those formerly placed in ''Douglasia'' and ''Vitaliana''. *'' Androsace adenocephala'' Hand.-Mazz. *'' Androsace adfinis'' Biroli *'' Androsace aflatunensis'' Ovcz. *'' Androsace aizoon'' Duby *'' Androsace akbaitalensis'' Derganc ex O.Fedtsch. *''

Androsace alaica ''Androsace'', commonly known as rock jasmine, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae, second only to '' Primula'' in the number of species. It is predominantly Arctic–alpine, with many species in the Himalayas (where the ge ...

'' Ovcz. & S.B.Astan. *''

Androsace alaschanica ''Androsace'', commonly known as rock jasmine, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae, second only to '' Primula'' in the number of species. It is predominantly Arctic–alpine, with many species in the Himalayas (where the ge ...

'' Maxim. *''

Androsace alaskana ''Androsace'', commonly known as rock jasmine, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae, second only to '' Primula'' in the number of species. It is predominantly Arctic–alpine, with many species in the Himalayas (where the ge ...

'' Coville & Standl. ex Hultén *''

Androsace albana ''Androsace albana'' is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family, Primulaceae The Primulaceae ( ), commonly known as the primrose family (but not related to the Onagraceae, evening primrose family), are a family (biology), family of ...

'' Steven *''

Androsace alchemilloides ''Androsace'', commonly known as rock jasmine, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae, second only to '' Primula'' in the number of species. It is predominantly Arctic–alpine, with many species in the Himalayas (where the ge ...

'' Franch. *''

Androsace alpina ''Androsace alpina'', or Alpine rock-jasmine, is an alpine plant, endemic to the Alps. The plant forms distinctive cushion-like mats up to 20 cm across, with small overlapping leaves arranged in rosettes and bearing fine glandular hairs ...

'' (L.) Lam. *''

Androsace americana ''Androsace americana'', synonym ''Douglasia arctica'', known as the Mackenzie River dwarf primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family, Primulaceae. It is native to subarctic North America (Alaska, the Northwest Territories a ...

'' Wendelbo *''

Androsace apus ''Androsace'', commonly known as rock jasmine, is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Primulaceae, second only to ''Primula'' in the number of species. It is predominantly Arctic–alpine, with many species in the Himalay ...

'' Franch. ex R.Knuth * ''Androsace'' × ''aretioides'' (Gaudin) Hegetschw. *'' Androsace argentea'' (C.F.Gaertn.) Lapeyr. *'' Androsace armeniaca'' Duby *'' Androsace axillaris'' (Franch.) Franch. *'' Androsace baltistanica'' Y.J.Nasir *'' Androsace beringensis'' (S.Kelso, Jurtzev & D.F.Murray) Cubey *'' Androsace bidentata'' K.Koch *'' Androsace bisulca'' Bureau & Franch. *'' Androsace brachystegia'' Hand.-Mazz. *''

Androsace brevis ''Androsace brevis'' is an alpine plant in the family Primulaceae, a narrow endemic cushion plant that grows above 2000 m asl on rocky ridges and peaks in a restricted area in the Alps of Northern Italy (Lombardy) and adjacent Switzerland. Foll ...

'' (Hegetschw.) Ces. *'' Androsace bryomorpha'' Lipsky *'' Androsace bulleyana'' Forrest *'' Androsace bungeana'' Schischk. & Bobrov *'' Androsace caduca'' Ovcz. *'' Androsace caespitosa'' Lehm. ex Spreng. *'' Androsace cernuiflora'' Y.C.Yang & R.F.Huang *'' Androsace chaixii'' Gren. & Godr. *'' Androsace chamaejasme'' Wulfen *'' Androsace ciliata'' DC. *'' Androsace ciliifolia'' Ludlow *'' Androsace constancei'' Wendelbo *'' Androsace coronata'' (Watt) Hand.-Mazz. *'' Androsace cortusifolia'' Nakai *'' Androsace croftii'' Watt *'' Androsace cuscutiformis'' Franch. *'' Androsace cuttingii'' C.E.C.Fisch. *'' Androsace cylindrica'' DC. *'' Androsace darvasica'' Ovcz. *'' Androsace dasyphylla'' Bunge *'' Androsace delavayi'' Franch. *'' Androsace dielsiana'' R.Knuth *'' Androsace dissecta'' (Franch.) Franch. *'' Androsace diversifolia'' C.Y.Wu *'' Androsace duthieana'' R.Knuth *'' Androsace elatior'' Pax & K.Hoffm. *'' Androsace elongata'' L. *'' Androsace engleri'' R.Knuth *'' Androsace erecta'' Maxim. *'' Androsace eritrichioides'' Gand. * ''Androsace'' × ''escheri'' Brügger *'' Androsace euryantha'' Hand.-Mazz. *'' Androsace exscapa'' Maximova *'' Androsace fedtschenkoi'' Ovcz. *'' Androsace filiformis'' Retz. *'' Androsace flavescens'' Maxim. *'' Androsace foliosa'' Duby *'' Androsace forrestiana'' Hand.-Mazz. *'' Androsace gagnepainiana'' Hand.-Mazz. *''

Androsace geraniifolia ''Androsace'', commonly known as rock jasmine, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae, second only to '' Primula'' in the number of species. It is predominantly Arctic–alpine, with many species in the Himalayas (where the ge ...

'' Watt *'' Androsace globifera'' Duby *'' Androsace globiferoides'' (Kunth) Hand.-Mazz. *'' Androsace gmelinii'' (L.) Roem. & Schult. *'' Androsace gorodkovii'' Ovcz. & Karav. *'' Androsace graceae'' Forrest ex W.W.Sm. *'' Androsace gracilis'' Hand.-Mazz. *'' Androsace graminifolia'' C.E.C.Fisch. *'' Androsace halleri'' L. *'' Androsace handel-mazzettii'' Kress *'' Androsace harrissii'' Duthie *'' Androsace hausmannii'' Leyb. *'' Androsace hazarica'' R.R.Stewart ex Y.J.Nasir *'' Androsace hedreantha'' Griseb. * ''Androsace'' × ''heeri'' W.D.J.Koch *'' Androsace helvetica'' (L.) All. *'' Androsace hemisphaerica'' Ludlow *'' Androsace henryi'' Oliv. *'' Androsace hohxilensis'' R.F.Huang & S.K.Wu *'' Androsace hookeriana'' Klatt *'' Androsace hopeiensis'' Nakai * ''Androsace'' × ''hybrida'' A.Kern. *'' Androsace idahoensis'' (Douglass M.Hend.) Cubey *'' Androsace incana'' Lam. *'' Androsace integra'' (Maxim.) Hand.-Mazz. *'' Androsace intermedia'' Ledeb. *'' Androsace jacquemontii'' Duby *'' Androsace khokhrjakovii'' Mazurenko *'' Androsace khumbuensis'' Dentant *'' Androsace komovensis'' Schönsw. & Schneew. *'' Androsace kouytchensis'' Bonati *'' Androsace kuczerovii'' Knjaz. *'' Androsace kuvajevii'' Mazurenko *'' Androsace lactea'' L. *'' Androsace lactiflora'' Fisch. ex Willd. *''

Androsace laevigata ''Androsace laevigata'', synonym ''Douglasia laevigata'', known as the cliff dwarf primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family, Primulaceae. It is native to the central Pacific coastal mountains of North America (west of the ...

'' (A.Gray) Wendelbo *'' Androsace laggeri'' A.Huet *'' Androsace lanuginosa'' Wall. *'' Androsace laxa'' C.M.Hu & Y.C.Yang *'' Androsace lehmanniana'' Spreng. *'' Androsace lehmannii'' Wall. ex Duby *'' Androsace limprichtii'' Pax & K.Hoffm. *'' Androsace longifolia'' Turcz. *'' Androsace lowariensis'' Y.J.Nasir *'' Androsace ludlowiana'' Hand.-Mazz. *'' Androsace mairei'' H.Lév. * ''Androsace'' × ''marpensis'' G.F.Sm. *'' Androsace mathildae'' Levier *'' Androsace maxima'' L. *'' Androsace medifissa'' Y.L.Chen & Y.C.Yang *'' Androsace minor'' (Hand.-Mazz.) C.M.Hu & Y.C.Yang *'' Androsace mirabilis'' Franch. *'' Androsace mollis'' Hand.-Mazz. *'' Androsace montana'' (A.Gray) Wendelbo *'' Androsace mucronifolia'' Watt *'' Androsace multiscapa'' Duby *'' Androsace muscoidea'' Duby *'' Androsace nivalis'' (Lindl.) Wendelbo *'' Androsace nortonii'' Ludlow *''

Androsace obtusifolia ''Androsace'', commonly known as rock jasmine, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae, second only to ''Primula'' in the number of species. It is predominantly Arctic–alpine, with many species in the Himalayas (where the gen ...

Former ''Douglasia'' species

The online ''Flora of North America'' placed nine species in ''Douglasia'' that are now included in ''Androsace'' (names in ''Androsace'' from ''Plants of the World Online''): *''Douglasia arctica'' = ''

'' *''Douglasia alaskana'' = ''

'' *''Douglasia beringensis'' = '' Androsace beringensis'' *''Douglasia gormanii'' = '' Androsace constancei'' *''Douglasia idahoensis'' = '' Androsace idahoensis'' *''Douglasia laevigata'' = ''

'' *''Douglasia montana'' = '' Androsace montana'' *''Douglasia nivalis'' = '' Androsace nivalis'' *''Douglasia ochotensis'' = '' Androsace ochotensis''

New species described in 2021

A group of scientist disentangled the morphology and ecology of ''Androsace'' genius in the French Alps and described three new species in 2021: * '' Androsace vesulensis'' in the ''A. alpina'' group, endemic of the Mont Viso. * '' Androsace saussurei'' and '' A. delphinensis'' in the ''A. pubescens'' group, which grow on siliceous substrate and are endemic to Mont Blanc and Central Alps respectively.

Cultivation

The following species have gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. It includes the full range of cultivated p ...

. All are mat-forming

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...

perennials In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

. *''A. lanuginosa'' (woolly rock jasmine) - lilac pink *''A. sempervivoides'' (sempervivum-leaved rock jasmine) - mauve pink *''A. studiosorum'' (rock jasmine) - deep pink

References

External links

Flora of PakistanThe Androsace Group
{{Authority control Alpine flora Primulaceae genera