Hesperis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae. Most are native to Eurasia, with several endemic to Greece & 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 name Hesperis was probably given because the scent of the flowers becomes more conspicuous towards evening (Hespera is the Greek word for evening).[1]
Classical literature source for the plant Hesperis:
Pliny, Natural History 21. 18 ff (trans. Bostock & Riley) (Roman historian C1st AD)
Hesperis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae. Most are native to Eurasia, with several endemic to Greece & 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 name Hesperis was probably given because the scent of the flowers becomes more conspicuous towards evening (Hespera is the Greek word for evening).
Species include:
Hesperis anatolica Hesperis armena Hesperis aspera Hesperis balansae Hesperis bicuspidata Hesperis bottae Hesperis dinarica Hesperis kitiana Hesperis kotschyana Hesperis hyrcana Hesperis laciniata Hesperis matronalis Hesperis pendula Hesperis persica Hesperis pisidica Hesperis podocarpa Hesperis rupestris Hesperis scabrida Hesperis schischkinii Hesperis sibirica Hesperis slovaca Hesperis trullata Hesperis turkmendagensis Hesperis varolii
