Dahlia pinnata

Dahlia pinnata (D. × pinnata) is a species in the genus Dahlia, family Asteraceae, with the common name garden dahlia. It is the type species of the genus and is widely cultivated.

Dahlia pinnata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Dahlia
Species:
D. pinnata
Binomial name
Dahlia pinnata
Cav. 1791[1]
Synonyms
  • Bidens variabilis (Willd.) Baill.
  • Dahlia barkeriae Knowles & Westc.
  • Dahlia crocata Lag.
  • Dahlia rosea Cav.
  • Dahlia variabilis (Willd.) Desf.
  • pinnate dahlia

Description

Dahlia pinnata is a perennial herbaceous plant with a rhizome and tuberous roots, reaching a height of 70 to 120, rarely 160 centimeters. The stem is erect being branched only in the inflorescence. The leaves are usually simple, with leaflets that are ovate and 5–10 cm long. The plant is slightly shaggy.

The two to eight flower heads have a diameter of 6 to 10 centimeters on 5 to 15 centimeters long stems. The eight florets have a length of 3 to 5 centimeters, are ovate and coloured pink to deep purple.[2]

Dahlias are mid-year to late-year season flowers that grow in a lot of various colors and forms.

Taxonomy

Hansen and Hjerting in (1996)[3] demonstrated that Dahlia pinnata should more properly be designated D. x pinnata. D. x pinnata was shown to actually be a variant of D. sorensenii that had acquired hybrid qualities before it was introduced to Europe in the sixteenth century and formally named by Cavanilles.[4] The original wild D. pinnata is presumed extinct.

Taxonomic Hierarchy[5]

Rank/ Scientific Name - Common Name

Kingdom/ Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom/ Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision/ Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division/ Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class/ Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass/ Asteridae

Order/ Asterales

Family/ Asteraceae/ Compositae - Aster Family

Genus/ Dahlia Cav. - dahlia

Species/ Dahlia pinnate Cav. - pinnate dahlia


Distribution and Habitat

It is, geographically, located in Northern/ Central America and they tend to grow at borders. The plant occurs in Mexico in the mountains around Mexico City.

Ecology

The flowering period extends from July to October.

Growing Dahlias

Like most plants, dahlias have their own preferences and necessities in order to blossom and evolve. They prefer rich soil (pH level estimated at around 6.5- 7.5) with enough organic matter. The roots must be kept moist since they are very shallow rooted which means they usually become dry fairly frequently and quickly. They bloom around mid-summer through the beginning of winter, they are able to survive a light frost, but anything colder/harsher than that, they will not be able to keep thriving. When the harsh weather of winter is approaching, the dahlias should be dug up and stored in a safer place for them.[6]

Many dahlia pinnata types can grow from seeds but more often they are cultivated by division of the tuberous roots or by stem cuttings. Providing the flower with some kind of plant food (mulch, growing media, nutrient food, etc) can really make the dahlia healthier and more likely to survive.[7]

Pests, Diseases, and Issues

Dahlias tend to attract quite a bit of insects, some which are dangerous and harmful to their survival. Insects like slugs, earwigs, the red spider, snails, caterpillars, aphids, and thrips threaten dahlias because they can eat the petals, leave slime trials, leave tattered petals, etc. Dahlias can also become infected with the following diseases: Sclerotinia disease, fungal diseases, mildew, Botrytis, Crown Gall, etc. If dahlias do become infected with these they can wilt, have spots on the leaves, the leaves can get irregular coloring/ patterning, etc.[8]

Cultivation

Used as an ornamental plant, and was cultivated by the Aztecs before the discovery of America, and was introduced to Spain in 1798. Modern dahlias are often the product of hybridisation between D. pinnata and D. Coccinea.

The reason why dahlias are used as ornaments and/or as parts of decoration pieces is because there are around thirty species that are all known for their immense beauty and ability to survive once they have been cut. Their lifespan, once they are cut, is above most other flowers/plants lifetime, especial if they are kept in clean water with enough flower food to keep them healthy. They have also become crucial for many plant breeders specifically for their appearance, durability, and ability to easily breed. These factors, on top of how much knowledge there is online and in books regarding dahlia care, many everyday people can now plant dahlias, care for them, harvest them, sell them, and most importantly use them as decorative pieces, because of how accessible they are becoming.[6]

Besides being used for their outside appearance, dahlias tend to be used for their medicinal properties as well. This plants roots contain some "nutritious inulin stored inside them" and they even have "antibiotic compounds concentrated in the skin of the tubers." This was so much so that this garden dahlia was before such an "important root crop and medicinal plant among the pre-Columbian Indians of central Mexico,Yucatan and Guatemala."[9]

References
  1. Icon 1: 57 (t. 80).
  2. Eckehardt J. Jäger, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd K. Müller (ed.): Rothmaler excursion flora of Germany. Volume 5: Herbaceous ornamental and useful plants. Spektrum, Academic Publisher, Heidelberg 2008, ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8
  3. Hansen, H. V. and J. P. Hierting. 1996. Observations on chromosome numbers and biosystematics in Dahlia (Asteraceae, Heliantheae) with an account on the identity of D. pinnata, D.rosea and D. coccinea. Nordic Journal of Botany 16: 445-455.
  4. Cavanilles, A. J. 1791. Icones et Descriptiones Plantarum 1: 57.
  5. "Plants Profile for Dahlia pinnata (pinnate dahlia)". plants.usda.gov.
  6. Iannotti, Marie (2020). "Dahlias - Season Ending Stunners". The Spruce. DOTDASH.
  7. Waseem, Kashif; Kiran, Mehwish; Baloch, Jalal-ud-Dain; Jilani, Muhammad Saleem; Khan, Muhammad Qasim (2007). "Effect of Different Growing Media on theGrowth and Development of Dahlia (Dahlia pinnata) Under the Agro-Climatic Condition of Dera Ismail Khan" (PDF). research gate.net. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. Nash, Kim Ruddock-last modified by June. "Pests & Diseases". National Dahlia Society.
  9. Whitley, Glenn Ross (1985-09-01). "The medicinal and nutritional properties of Dahlia spp". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 14 (1): 75–82. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(85)90031-5. ISSN 0378-8741.


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