Sharp-leaf fluellen (Kickxia elatine, Fl. Belg.: 35 (1827))

Family: Plantaginaceae

Author: (L.) Dumort.

Bibliography: Fl. Belg.: 35 (1827)

Year: 1827

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Kickxia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Macaronesia, Europe to C. Asia and N. Somalia

Description

Sharp-leaf fluellen, scientifically known as Kickxia elatine, is a fascinating member of the Plantaginaceae family. Initially documented in the early 19th century with a notable reference in Fl. Belg.: 35 (1827) by the author (L.) Dumort., this plant has captivated botanists and plant enthusiasts with its unique characteristics and wide geographical distribution.

This species is indigenous to various regions, spanning from Macaronesia and Europe to Central Asia and extending as far south as Northern Somalia. The broad range of its natural habitat indicates its remarkable adaptability to different climates and environmental conditions.

The defining feature of the Sharp-leaf fluellen is, as its common name suggests, its sharply-pointed leaves. These are typically small and possess a distinct texture that sets Kickxia elatine apart from other plants within the same family. The plant usually flourishes in open fields, along roadsides, and in disturbed sites where it can sometimes be seen sprawling over the ground or climbing through nearby vegetation.

The flora’s ability to thrive in varied conditions helps it to play a crucial role in local ecosystems, contributing to the biodiversity of the regions it inhabits. Its presence supports a range of insects and other small organisms that rely on it for shelter and food, thereby maintaining ecological balance.

Despite its hardy nature, the Sharp-leaf fluellen is sometimes overlooked in botanical surveys, which serves as a reminder of the importance of documenting and conserving even the most common species. Protecting plants like Kickxia elatine ensures the preservation of the intricate web of life that sustains biodiversity across our planet.

Common Names

Deu: pfeilblättriges schlangenmaul, spießblättriges tännelkraut
Eng: sharp-leaved fluellen, sharpleaf cancerwort, cancerwort, fluvellin, roundleaf fluvellin, sharp-leaf fluellen, sharped-leaved fluellen, sharppoint fluvellin, twining-toadflax, woolly-toadflax, sharp-leaved cancerwort, sharp-pointed fluelin, sharp-pointed toadflax, toadflax
Dan: spydbladet torskemund
Swe: keihäsnielukukka, spjutsporre, spjutsporreblomma
Fin: keihäsnielukukka
Fra: linaire élatine
Ces: oštěpovka oby
Nno: piltorskemunn
Nob: piltorskemunn
Nld: spiesleeuwenbek
Cym: llysiau llywelyn, llywelyn, trwyn-y-llo blaenfeinddail
En: Sharp-leaf fluellen, Woolly-toadflax, Twining-toadflax, Sharpleaf cancerwort, Sharp-Leaf Cancerwort, SHARPOINT FLUEVELLIN, Harpleaf cancerwort, Sharped-leaved fluellen, Sharp-leaved Fluellen, Cancerwort, Fluvellin, Roundleaf fluvellin, Sharppoint fluvellin, Sharp-leaved cancerwort, Sharp-pointed fluelin, Sharp-pointed toadflax, Toadflax, Fluellen
Ar: حباحب أحرش
Zh: 戟叶凯氏草
Cs: Úporek hrálovitý, Oštěpovka oby
Da: Spydbladet Torskemund
Nl: Spiesleeuwenbek, Spiesleeuwebek
Fi: Keihäsnielukukka
Fr: Linaire élatine, Velvote, Kickxia élatine
De: Pfeilblättriges Schlangenmaul, Spießblättriges Tännelkraut, Echtes Tännelkraut, Echtes Tännelleinkraut, Pfeilblättriges Leinkraut, Spießblättriges Leinkraut
He: עפעפית שרועה
It: Cencio minore, Soldino
Nb: Piltorskemunn
Nn: Piltorskemunn
Fa: چنگارواش تیزبرگ
Pl: Kiksja oszczepowata
Sv: Spjutsporre, Keihäsnielukukka, Spjutsporreblomma
Cy: Llysiau Llywelyn, Llywelyn, Trwyn-y-Llo Blaenfeinddail

Synonyms

• Antirrhinum elatine (L.)
• Tursitis elatine ((L.) Raf.)
• Elatinoides elatine ((L.) Wettst.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Austria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Somalia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jun 23, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Françoise CARLE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 16, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 16, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2021 by Edith Gayot-Boudier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 31, 2017 by Bernard Evrad (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Fruit

Taken Aug 6, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 16, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 10, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 30, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Hugues HAEFFNER (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2022 by Aurelien Fridman (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 9, 2022 by Robert Drajewicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2021 by Edith Gayot-Boudier (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 15, 1999 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Sep 16, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 10, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 10, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Valery HENRIOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 5, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie-France PETIBON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Mikaël Dumontier (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 10, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 10, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 5, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie-France PETIBON (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3170819)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:804092-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Kickxia elatine (L.) Dumort.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’, ‘oct’]

Soil nutriments: 6