''Hesperis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family

Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older but equally valid) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important Family (biology), family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous pla ...

. Most are native to Eurasia, with several

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 ...

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 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 ...

name ''Hesperis'' was probably given because the scent of the flowers becomes more conspicuous towards evening (''Hespera'' is the Greek word for evening).

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus ''Hesperis'': *'' Hesperis anatolica'' *'' Hesperis armena'' *'' Hesperis bakhtiarica'' *'' Hesperis balansae'' *'' Hesperis bicuspidata'' *'' Hesperis blakelockii'' *'' Hesperis boissieriana'' *'' Hesperis borbasii'' *'' Hesperis bottae'' *'' Hesperis breviscapa'' *'' Hesperis burdurensis'' *'' Hesperis buschiana'' *'' Hesperis cilicica'' *'' Hesperis ciscaucasica'' *'' Hesperis dinarica'' *'' Hesperis dvorakii'' *'' Hesperis hamzaoglui'' *'' Hesperis hedgei'' *'' Hesperis hirsutissima'' *'' Hesperis hyrcana'' *'' Hesperis ilamica'' *'' Hesperis inodora'' *'' Hesperis isatidea'' *'' Hesperis kitiana'' *'' Hesperis kotschyi'' *'' Hesperis kuerschneri'' *'' Hesperis kurdica'' *'' Hesperis laciniata'' *'' Hesperis luristanica'' *'' Hesperis matronalis'' *'' Hesperis microcalyx'' *'' Hesperis muglensis'' *'' Hesperis multicaulis'' *'' Hesperis nivalis'' *'' Hesperis novakii'' *'' Hesperis odorata'' *'' Hesperis ozcelikii'' *'' Hesperis pendula'' *'' Hesperis persica'' *'' Hesperis pisidica'' *'' Hesperis podocarpa'' *'' Hesperis sibirica'' *'' Hesperis slovaca'' *'' Hesperis steveniana'' *'' Hesperis straussii'' *'' Hesperis sylvestris'' *'' Hesperis syriaca'' *'' Hesperis theophrasti'' *'' Hesperis thyrsoidea'' *'' Hesperis tosyaensis'' *'' Hesperis tristis'' *'' Hesperis turkmendaghensis'' *'' Hesperis zaferi''

Classical literature source

Classical literature source for the plant Hesperis: * Pliny, ''Natural History'' 21. 18 ff (trans. Bostock & Riley) (Roman historian C1st AD)

References

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment
Brassicaceae Brassicaceae genera {{Brassicales-stub