Tropaeolum majus L.

Global description
 
Tropaeolum majus is an annual to perennial herbaceous plant, glabrous, prostrate or climbing, with long slender stem, succulent and brittle, reaching 2 to 3 m long. Leaves, with long petioles, are alternate, simple, and circular with radiating ribs. The flowers are large, with long pedicels, calyx with 5 colorful lobes, the back with a long curved spur, corolla with 5 rounded petals laciniate at both ends, bright color, yellow to dark red. Fruit, globular, has 3 loculus, each containing a large verrucose seed, marked with ribs.
 
General habitat
 
Herb annual to perennial, glabrous, prostrate or climbing, reaching 2 to 3 m long.
 
Underground system
 
The plant has a taproot system.
 
Stem
 
The stem is long, slender, succulent and brittle.
 
Leaf
 
The leaves are stalked, alternate, and simple. The lamina is circular, with radiating venations and slightly lobed margin. The size of leaves is variable, depending on the soil quality.
 
Flower
 
The large flowers have long peduncles. The calyx consists of 5 lobes, yellowish or reddish in color. The dorsal lobe has a curved spur 2 to 3 cm long. The 5 irregular petals are nail shaped, 3 to 4 cm long with rounded tip, with base and top laciniate. Their color varies from yellow to dark red. The 8 stamens are divided into two series. The ovary is composed of three loculus containing a single ovule. It is surmounted by a style ending in 3 stigmas.
 
Fruit
 
The globular fruit has 3 smooth and ribbed loculus, each containing a large seed.
 
Seed
 
The seed with more or less warty envelop, is marked with 5 to 7 ribs.

Origin

Tropaeolum majus is native to Peru.

Worldwide distribution

This species has been introduced, especially as an ornamental plant, to a very large number of countries worldwide, both in tropical and temperate regions.

 

https://www.gbif.org/fr/species/2889934