Rhodohypoxis | |
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Rhodohypoxis baurii in cultivation | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Hypoxidaceae |
Genus: | Rhodohypoxis Nel |
Rhodohypoxis is a small genus of tuberous flowering plants in the family Hypoxidaceae, native to southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland). [1] The small flowers, no more than 15 cm (6 in) high, are constructed so that their centres are not visible. Some species are in cultivation.
A genus is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, as well as viruses, in biology. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus.
Tubers are enlarged structures in some plant species used as storage organs for nutrients. They are used for the plant's perennation, to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing season, and as a means of asexual reproduction. Stem tubers form thickened rhizomes or stolons. Common plant species with stem tubers include potato and yam. Some sources also treat modified lateral roots under the definition; these are encountered in sweet potato, cassava, and dahlia.
Hypoxidaceae is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots.
Rhodohypoxis species grow from small tubers. They flower in the summer and die down in the winter. When in flower, they are typically 2–15 cm (0.8–5.9 in) tall. The flowers are white, pink or red; the bases of the tepals bend inwards, so that the stamens and ovary are not visible. Rhodohypoxis species are found in the eastern part of southern Africa, particularly in the Drakensberg mountains in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. This is a region of summer rainfall with relatively dry winters. [2]
A tepal is one of the outer parts of a flower. The term is used when these parts cannot easily be classified as either sepals or petals. This may be because the parts of the perianth are undifferentiated, as in Magnolia, or because, although it is possible to distinguish an outer whorl of sepals from an inner whorl of petals, the sepals and petals have similar appearance to one another. The term was first proposed by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1827 and was constructed by analogy with the terms "petal" and "sepal".
The stamen is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium.
The ovary is an organ found in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary found on the left and right sides of the body. The ovaries also secrete hormones that play a role in the menstrual cycle and fertility. The ovary progresses through many stages beginning in the prenatal period through menopause. It is also an endocrine gland because of the various hormones that it secretes.
Rhodohypoxis baurii is not uncommon in cultivation. It is not reliably frost hardy, so is often grown in pots, protected in the winter. Various colour forms are available under cultivar names, e.g. 'Ruth' (pure white), 'Allbrighton' (pink) and 'Douglas' (red). Some other species, such as R. milloides, and hybrids with Hypoxis species are also grown. [2]
A cultivar is an assemblage of plants selected for desirable characters that are maintained during propagation. More generally, a cultivar is the most basic classification category of cultivated plants in the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP). Most cultivars arose in cultivation, but a few are special selections from the wild.
Hypoxis is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Hypoxidaceae. The genus has an "almost cosmopolitan" distribution, occurring in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. Europe lacks native species. Most species are in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in southern Africa. Common names for the genus include star-grass, star lily, yellow stars, African potato, and stars. The genus is the largest of the Hypoxidaceae family and has its centre of variation in South Africa, where it occurs in open undisturbed grasslands. The name Hypoxis was taken over by Linnaeus in 1759 from a name coined by Paul Reneaulme in 1611 for a superficially similar species of Gagea and meaning "a little sour", referring to the taste of that plant's leaves.
Tulbaghia is a genus of monocotyledonous herbaceous perennial bulbs native to Africa, belonging to the Amaryllis family. It is one of only two known genera in the society garlic tribe within the onion subfamily. The genus was named for Ryk Tulbagh (1699–1771), one time governor of The Cape of Good Hope.
Kniphofia, also called tritoma, red hot poker, torch lily, knofflers or poker plant, is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Asphodelaceae, first described as a genus in 1794. It is native to Africa.
Crocosmia (montbretia) is a small genus of flowering plants in the iris family, Iridaceae. It is native to the grasslands of southern and eastern Africa, ranging from South Africa to Sudan. One species is endemic to Madagascar.
Aristaloe is a genus of evergreen flowering perennial plant in the family Asphodelaceae from Southern Africa. Its sole species is Aristaloe aristata, known as guinea-fowl aloe or lace aloe.
Clutia is a plant genus of the family Peraceae. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa and to the Arabian Peninsula.
Aloidendron barberae, formerly Aloe barberae, also known as the tree aloe, is a species of succulent plant in the genus Aloidendron. It is native to South Africa northwards to Mozambique. In its native climes this slow-growing tree can reach up to 18 m (54 ft) high and 0.9 m (3 ft) in stem diameter. Aloidendron barberae is Africa's largest aloe-like plant. The tree aloe is often used as an ornamental plant. Its tubular flowers are rose pink (green-tipped); it flowers in winter and in its natural environment is pollinated by sunbirds.
Trachyandra is a genus of plant in the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae, first described as a genus in 1843. It is native to eastern and southern Africa, as well as to Yemen and Madagascar. Many of the species are endemic to South Africa.
Dierama is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family, Iridaceae. Common names include hairbells, Angel's Fishing Rod, fairybells, and wandflowers in English and grasklokkies in Afrikaans. They are native to Africa, with most occurring in the southern regions of the continent. The center of diversity is the province of KwaZulu-Natal in eastern South Africa.
Wurmbea is a genus of perennial herbs in the family Colchicaceae, native to Africa and Australia. There are about 50 species, with about half endemic to each continent.
Prosphytochloa is a genus of African plants in the grass family. The only known species is Prosphytochloa prehensilis, native to Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo.
Tenrhynea is a genus of Southern African plants in the pussy's-toes tribe within the sunflower family.
Harpochloa is a genus of African plants in the grass family, common name caterpillar grass.
Euclea racemosa is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree that is indigenous to the Indian Ocean coast of Africa from Egypt to South Africa, as well as in Comoros, Oman and Yemen.
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.
Eucomis pallidiflora 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.
Empodium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Hypoxidaceae, first described in 1866. It grows from a small corm which produces lance-shaped or pleated and sometimes hairy, star-shaped flowers and leaves with 10–30 centimetres (4–12 in) long in Autumn season. The genus is native to winter-rainfall areas in South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Namibia.
Scadoxus membranaceus is a bulbous plant from South Africa. The smallest of the species of Scadoxus, it is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental plant where a minimum temperature of 5 °C (41 °F) can be maintained.
Saniella is a flowering plant genus in the family Hypoxidaceae, native to South Africa and Lesotho. Two species are recognised:
Craterocapsa is a genus of plants in the family Campanulaceae. It contains 5 known species, all native to southern Africa.
Acrotome is a genus of plants in the Lamiaceae, first described in 1838. The genus is native to the southern part of Africa.
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