Puschkinia

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Puschkinia
Puszkinia cebulicowata Puschkinia libanotica IV 2006 1.jpg
Puschkinia scilloides
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Scilloideae
Genus: Puschkinia
Adams [1]
Synonyms [1]

AdamsiaWilld.

Puschkinia is a genus of four known species of bulbous perennials in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. [2] It is native to the Caucasus and the Middle East. [1] Puschkinia scilloides is grown as an ornamental bulbous plant.

Contents

Description

The leaves are green, strap-like, and grow in pairs. The flowers are borne in early spring in racemes up to about 25 cm (10 in) high. The six tepals are joined at the base to form a tube to about half their length. Like members of the former genus Chionodoxa (now a section of Scilla), the bases of the stamens are flattened and closely clustered in the middle of the flower; however, unlike Chionodoxa, they are joined to form a cup or corona. In the related genus Scilla (squills), the stamens are not joined together. Seeds are borne in three-parted capsules. After the seed ripens in early summer, the plants become dormant until the next spring. [3] [4]

Close-up of flower of Puschkinia scilloides Puschkinia scilloides-3.jpg
Close-up of flower of Puschkinia scilloides

Taxonomy

The genus Puschkinia was erected by Johann Friedrich Adam in 1805. [1] It is named in honor of the Russian botanist Apollo Mussin-Pushkin. [4] Now placed in the subfamily Scilloideae of the family Asparagaceae, [2] like other lilioid monocots, it was once included in the Liliaceae.

Species

As of April 2022, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepted four species: [5]

Cultivation

Puschkinia scilloides is grown as an ornamental bulbous plant, particularly recommended as an early flowering bulb for cool, well drained positions. [3] Puschkinia peshmenii is rare in cultivation. [4]

Culture

In 1993, an illustration of Puschkinia scilloides was used as a postage stamp in Azerbaijan, with a series of other flowers, including Iris reticulata , Tulipa systola (syn. T. persica), Iris acutiloba , Iris iberica subsp. elegantissima (syn. I. elegantissima) and Tulipa florenskyii . [6]

Related Research Articles

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

Scilla is a genus of about 50 to 80 species of bulb-forming perennial herbaceous plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. Sometimes called the squills in English, they are native to woodlands, subalpine meadows, and seashores throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. A few species are also naturalized in Australia, New Zealand and North America. Their flowers are usually blue, but white, pink, and purple types are known; most flower in early spring, but a few are autumn-flowering. Several Scilla species are valued as ornamental garden plants.

Scilloideae Subfamily of bulbous monocot plants

Scilloideae is a subfamily of bulbous plants within the family Asparagaceae. Scilloideae is sometimes treated as a separate family Hyacinthaceae, named after the genus Hyacinthus. Scilloideae or Hyacinthaceae include many familiar garden plants such as Hyacinthus (hyacinths), Hyacinthoides (bluebells), Muscari and Scilla and Puschkinia. Some are important as cut flowers.

<i>Scilla siberica</i> Species of flowering plant

Scilla siberica, the Siberian squill or wood squill, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to southwestern Russia, the Caucasus, and Turkey. Despite its name, it is not native to Siberia.

<i>Scilla luciliae</i> Species of plant in the family Asparagaceae

Scilla luciliae is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is referred to by the common names Bossier's glory-of-the-snow or Lucile's glory-of-the-snow, and is a bulbous perennial from western Turkey that flowers in early spring. After flowering, it goes into dormancy until the next spring. The specific epithet is in honour of Lucile, the wife of the Swiss botanist Pierre Edmond Boissier (1810-1885). 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>Scilla <span style="font-style:normal;">sect.</span> Chionodoxa</i> Section of plants in the genus Scilla

Scilla section Chionodoxa, known as glory-of-the-snow, is a small group of bulbous perennial flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. Formerly treated as the separate genus Chionodoxa, they are now included in Scilla as a section. The section is endemic to the eastern Mediterranean, specifically Crete, Cyprus and Turkey. The blue, white or pink flowers appear early in the year making them valuable garden ornamentals. The common name of the group is based on the habit of flowering in high alpine zones when the snow melts in spring.

Ornamental bulbous plant Herbaceous perennials with underground storage parts grown for ornamental purposes

Ornamental bulbous plants, often called ornamental bulbs or just bulbs in gardening and horticulture, are herbaceous perennials grown for ornamental purposes, which have underground or near ground storage organs. Botanists distinguish between true bulbs, corms, rhizomes, tubers and tuberous roots, any of which may be termed "bulbs" in horticulture. Bulb species usually lose their upper parts during adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat or winter cold. The bulb's storage organs contain moisture and nutrients that are used to survive these adverse conditions in a dormant state. When conditions become favourable the reserves sustain a new growth cycle. In addition, bulbs permit vegetative or asexual multiplication in these species. Ornamental bulbs are used in parks and gardens and as cut flowers.

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

Scilla forbesii, known as Forbes' glory-of-the-snow, is a bulbous perennial plant 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> Species of flowering plant

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.

Scilla lochiae, known as Loch's glory-of-the-snow, is a bulbous perennial from Cyprus flowering in early spring. After flowering, it goes into dormancy until the next spring. It was named after Lady Loch who collected it. It belongs to a group of Scilla species that were formerly put in a separate genus, Chionodoxa, which may now be treated as Scilla sect. Chionodoxa.

Scilla × allenii is a hybrid between two species of flowering plants, both of which are now placed in the genus Scilla. One of the parents is Scilla bifolia. As of March 2020, sources differ as to the identify of the other, which may be either Scilla forbesii or Scilla luciliae.

Brian Frederick Mathew MBE, VMH is a British botanist, born in the village of Limpsfield, Surrey, England. His particular area of expertise is bulbous plants, particularly ornamental bulbous plants, although he has contributed to other fields of taxonomy and horticulture. He has authored or co-authored many books on bulbs and bulbous genera which appeal to both botanists and gardeners, as well as specialist monographs on other genera, including Daphne, Lewisia, and Helleborus. His work has been recognized by the British Royal Horticultural Society and the International Bulb Society.

Puschkinia peshmenii is a bulbous perennial from Turkey and Iran, producing flowers in shades of green in spring.

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

Barnardia is a small genus of bulbous flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. The genus has two species, one found in the Balearic Islands and north-west Africa, the other in east China, Korea, Japan and adjacent localities. It was suggested in 2012 that the two species were not closely related.

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

Fessia is a genus of bulbous flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. It is distributed from Iran to Central Asia and Pakistan.

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

Merwilla is a genus of bulbous flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. It is distributed in southern Africa, from Zimbabwe to South Africa. This genus is named after the botanist Frederick Ziervogel Van der Merwe (1894–1968), who worked on this group.

<i>Prospero</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants

Prospero is a genus of bulbous flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. It is distributed in Europe, around the Mediterranean, and through the Middle East to the Caucasus.

Pseudoprospero is a genus of bulbous flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. The genus has a single species Pseudoprospero firmifolium, which is endemic to South Africa.

<i>Barnardia japonica</i> Species of plant

Barnardia japonica, the Japanese jacinth, is a bulbous flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. It is one of the two species of the genus Barnardia, found in east China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and East Russia.

<i>Puschkinia scilloides</i> Species of flowering plant

Puschkinia scilloides, commonly known as striped squill or Lebanon squill, is a bulbous perennial, native to Western Asia and the Caucasus.

Scilla cretica is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family. It is referred to by the common name Cretan glory-of-the-snow, and is a bulbous perennial native to Crete, flowering in early 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. It has not always been recognized as distinct from Scilla nana.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Puschkinia", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families , Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , retrieved 2017-08-08
  2. 1 2 Stevens, P.F., Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Asparagales: Scilloideae , retrieved 2017-08-08
  3. 1 2 Mathew, Brian (1987), "Puschkinia", The Smaller Bulbs, London: B.T. Batsford, p. 145, ISBN   978-0-7134-4922-8
  4. 1 2 3 Rix, Martyn & Mathew, Brian (2007), "582. Puschkinia peshmenii", Curtis's Botanical Magazine, 24 (1): 54–57, doi:10.1111/j.1467-8748.2007.00561.x
  5. "Search for Puschkinia", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families , Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , retrieved 2017-05-05
  6. "Azerbaijan". stampworld.com. Retrieved 7 March 2016.