What kind of herbaceous plant is the stock (Matthiola incana)?

Other names of stock

Stock, also called cao gui hua, si tao ke, and cao zi luo lan, is the collective name for plants of the various species under the genus Matthiola in the Brassicaceae family.

Morphological characteristics of stock

Stock is a 2-year or perennial herbaceous flowering plant, generally sown in autumn of the first year and flowering in spring of the following year, with a plant height of 30 to 60cm. The whole plant is covered with gray stellate soft hairs, and the stem is upright and slightly woody at the base. The leaves are broad, long elliptic or oblanceolate, with rounded blunt tips. The raceme is terminal and axillary, the pedicels are thick and strong, and the flowers are purplish red, pale red, pale yellow, white, etc. Single-petaled flowers can set seeds, while double-petaled flowers do not set seeds. The fruit is a cylindrical silique, and the seeds have wings. The flowering period is 12 to 4 months, and the fruit ripening period is 6 to 7 months.

Growth habits of stock

Stock likes a cool climate and dislikes dry heat. It likes a well-ventilated environment, likes mild weather in winter, but can also tolerate a short period of low temperature of -5°C. The suitable temperature for flower bud differentiation is 15°C. It is not strict about soil, but grows better in well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil, and dislikes acidic soil. Stock is cold-resistant but not shade-tolerant, and fears waterlogging. It is suitable for growing in environments with a relatively high position, exposure to sunlight, and good ventilation and drainage. It must absolutely avoid muggy heat, and in moldy rainy weather that is hot with poor ventilation, it is prone to damage by diseases and pests. It requires fertile, moist and deep loam; it likes sufficient sunlight, but is also slightly tolerant of half shade; fertilization should not be excessive, otherwise it is unfavorable for flowering; if light and ventilation are insufficient, it is prone to diseases and pests.

Varieties of stock

There are many horticultural varieties of stock, with two strain types: single-petaled and double-petaled. The double-petaled strain has high ornamental value; the single-petaled strain can set seeds, while the double-petaled strain cannot. Generally, plants grown from flat seeds can usually produce a large number of double-petaled flowers; while plump and full seeds mostly produce plants with single-petaled flowers.

The main cultivated varieties of stock include the white "Aida" (Aida), the pale yellow "Carmen" (Carmen), the red "Francesco" (Francesco), the purple "Arabella" (Arabella), and the pale purple-red "Incana" (Incana), etc. According to plant height, there are three types: tall, medium and dwarf; according to different flowering periods, there are summer stock, autumn stock and winter stock, etc.; according to different cultivation habits, there are annual and biennial types.

Stock flower language

Stock(blue) - warning, loyalty, I will always be loyal

Stock(white) - let us seize the opportunity for happiness

Stock (purple)-falling in love with you in a dream, to me you will always be so beautiful