Eucomis vandermerwei

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Eucomis vandermerwei
Eucomis vandermerwei00.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Scilloideae
Genus: Eucomis
Species:
E. vandermerwei
Binomial name
Eucomis vandermerwei

Eucomis vandermerwei is a South African bulbous perennial flowering plant, a member of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae), and like other members of Eucomis is commonly known as pineapple lily for its superficial resemblance to that plant ( Ananas comosus ), although not closely related to it. This species is one of the smallest in the genus, and is native to a high-rainfall region of western Mpumalanga in South Africa. The dense rosette of leaves, either prostrate or ascending, is heavily blotched with purple, and the leaf-edges are markedly crisped or wavy. The star-shaped burgundy flowers appear in midsummer (November–January in South Africa), and are borne on a spike (raceme) topped by a "head" of leafy bracts.

Contents

Description

Eucomis vandermerwei is a short summer-growing bulbous plant, reaching at most 20 cm (8 in) tall. It bulb is ovoid, 3–6 cm (1 1⁄4–2 1⁄4 in) across. Three to six leaves emerge from a bulb and are up to 60 cm (2 ft) long and 15 cm (6 in) wide, heavily spotted and marked with purple, with hard undulate margins. The flowers are arranged in a raceme on a purple-spotted stem (peduncule) 6–12 cm (2 1⁄2–4 1⁄2 in) tall. The raceme is topped by a head or "coma" of up to 11 bracts which, like the leaves, are purple spotted. The unpleasantly scented flowers have maroon tepals and green stamen filaments bearing mauve anthers. Each flower is borne on a stalk (pedicel), 2–4 cm (1–1 1⁄2 in) long. The ovary is green tinged with purple and is followed by a brownish-maroon seed capsule producing relatively large, ovoid, black glossy seeds. [2] [3]

Taxonomy

Eucomis vandermerwei was first described by Inez Verdoorn in 1944. [1] The species was first collected in 1937 by the amateur botanist Frederick Ziervogel van der Merwe in western Mpumalanga. [2] It is one of a group of mainly short, diploid species with 2n = 2x = 30 chromosomes. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Eucomis vandermerwei occurs in western Mpumalanga, part of the Northern Provinces, [1] in the most north-eastern part of South Africa. It is endemic to high slopes and plateaux at altitudes of 2,200–2,500 m (7,200–8,200 ft). It grows in small groups in sunny positions in well-drained stony and rocky habitats with acid soil. [2] [5]

Conservation

Eucomis vandermerwei has been assessed as "vulnerable" in the Red List of South African Plants, and the population is declining. It is only known from six to eight locations. Threats include its habitat being converted to forestry, overgrazing and trampling, poor fire control and alien vegetation. Harvesting for medicinal purposes by local people is also a threat, as is the expansion of coal mining. It is protected where it occurs in the Verloren Valei Nature Reserve. [6] Its seed capsules are heavily parasitized by insects, resulting in poor seed germination. [2]

Cultivation

Eucomis vandermerwei is cultivated as an ornamental bulbous plant. It has been described as "one of the most desirable dwarf summer-growing South African bulbs", with very long-lasting flowers and cryptically marked foliage. [5] In temperate areas such as Britain, E. vandermerwei requires a sheltered position in full sun, in a spot where temperatures do not fall below −5 °C (23 °F), for instance in southern and south-western coastal parts. In colder areas, dry frost-free storage in winter is recommended. It may be propagated from seed or leaf cuttings, by division of the large tunicated bulb or from offsets. [3] [5] It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [7] [8]

Some cultivars are either known or assumed to be derived from E. vandermerwei. These include:

Related Research Articles

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<i>Eucomis comosa</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Eucomis</i> Genus of flowering plants

Eucomis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to southern Africa. Most species of this genus are commonly referred to as pineapple flowers or pineapple lilies. They are bulbous perennials with basal rosettes of leaves and stout stems covered in star-shaped flowers with a tuft of green bracts at the top, superficially resembling a pineapple – hence the common names.

<i>Eucomis autumnalis</i> Species of flowering plant

Eucomis autumnalis, the autumn pineapple flower, or autumn pineapple lily, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to Malawi, Zimbabwe and southern Africa. It is a mid to late summer flowering deciduous bulbous perennial. The flower stem reaches about 40 cm (16 in), rising from a basal rosette of wavy-edged leaves. The green, yellow or white flowers are arranged in a spike (raceme), topped by a "head" of green leaflike bracts. It is grown as an ornamental garden plant and can also be used as a cut flower.

<i>Scilla forbesii</i> Species of plant

Scilla forbesii, known as Forbes' glory-of-the-snow, is a bulbous perennial from west Turkey flowering in early spring. It is considered synonymous with Scilla siehei, known as Siehe's glory-of-the-snow, by some sources, although others distinguish them. It belongs to a group of Scilla species that were formerly put in a separate genus, Chionodoxa, and may now be treated as Scilla sect. Chionodoxa. After flowering, it goes into dormancy until the next spring. It seeds readily to form colonies.

<i>Scilla sardensis</i>

Scilla sardensis, the lesser glory-of-the-snow, is a bulbous perennial from west Turkey flowering in early spring. After flowering, it goes into dormancy until the next spring. It belongs to a group of Scilla species that were formerly put in a separate genus, Chionodoxa, and may now be treated as Scilla sect. Chionodoxa.

<i>Eucomis bicolor</i> Species of flowering plant

Eucomis bicolor, the variegated pineapple lily or just pineapple lily, is a bulbous species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to Southern Africa. The pale green, purple-margined flowers are arranged in a spike (raceme), topped by a "head" of green leaflike bracts. It is cultivated as an ornamental bulbous plant, although its flowers have an unpleasant smell, attractive to the main pollinators, flies.

<i>Eucomis pallidiflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Eucomis pallidiflora, the giant pineapple lily, is a bulbous species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to southern Africa. The white to green flowers appear in summer and are arranged in a spike (raceme), topped by a "head" of green leaflike bracts. Some forms reach almost 2 m when in flower. The species is cultivated as an ornamental plant, although it is not hardy in areas where severe frosts occur.

<i>Eucomis zambesiaca</i> Species of flowering plant

Eucomis zambesiaca is a bulbous plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to southern Africa, from Zimbabwe through Malawi to the Limpopo Province of South Africa. One of the smaller species in the genus, it has a rosette of leaves about 45 cm (18 in) across and white flowers in a spike to about 30 cm (12 in) tall.

<i>Eucomis montana</i> Species of flowering plant

Eucomis montana is a plant species in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, found in South Africa and Eswatini (Swaziland). When in flower in summer, the plant reaches a height of up to 45 cm, with a dense spike (raceme) of greenish flowers, topped by a "head" of green bracts.

Graham Dugald Duncan(born 1959) is a South African botanist and specialist bulb horticulturalist at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, South Africa.

<i>Eucomis regia</i> Species of flowering plant

Eucomis regia is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is sometimes cultivated, but requires protection in a greenhouse in temperate climates.

Eucomis amaryllidifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to the Cape Provinces. It is a short, summer-flowering bulbous plant, with a dense spike (raceme) of yellowish-green flowers topped by a "head" of leafy bracts. In Afrikaans it is called kliplelie.

Eucomis grimshawii is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to the Cape Provinces. It was first described by Graham Duncan and Ben Zonneveld in 2010.

Eucomis humilis is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. It was first described by Baker in 1895. The greenish to purplish flowers appear in summer and are arranged in a spike (raceme), topped by a "head" of green leaflike bracts. Cultivated as an ornamental plant, it can be grown successfully outside where frosts are not too severe.

Eucomis schijffii is a bulbous species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to the Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. It was first described by William Frederick Reyneke in 1976. The reddish purple flowers appear in summer and are arranged in a spike (raceme), topped by a "head" of green leaflike bracts. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant and can be grown successfully outside where frosts are not too severe. The smallest of the species of Eucomis, it is particularly suited to being grown in rock gardens or containers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Eucomis vandermerwei". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2018-11-03.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Duncan, Graham (May 2012). "Eucomis vandermerwei". PlantZAfrica.com. SANBI. Retrieved 2018-11-03.
  3. 1 2 Compton, James (1990). "Eucomis L'Heritier". The Plantsman. 12 (3): 129–139.
  4. ↑ Zonneveld, B.J.M. & Duncan, G.D. (2010). "Genome sizes of Eucomis L'Hér. (Hyacinthaceae) and a description of the new species Eucomis grimshawii G.D.Duncan & Zonneveld". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 284 (1–2): 99–109. doi: 10.1007/s00606-009-0236-y .
  5. 1 2 3 Duncan, Graham (2007), "Lesser-known Eucomis", The Plantsman, New Series, 6 (2): 98–103
  6. ↑ Lötter, M.; Burrows, J.E. & von Staden, L. (2009). "Eucomis vandermerwei I.Verd". National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2017.1. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  7. ↑ "Eucomis vandermerwei". RHS Plantfinder. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  8. ↑ "AGM Plants – Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 37. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  9. ↑ Grimshaw, John (2010). "Horticultural Trades Association National Plant Show 2010". John Grimshaw's Garden Diary. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  10. ↑ "Eucomis 'Freckles'". Plant Finder. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
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