Scadoxus membranaceus

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Scadoxus membranaceus
Scadoxus membranaceus - Basel - 2.jpg
In cultivation in Basel
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae
Genus: Scadoxus
Species:
S. membranaceus
Binomial name
Scadoxus membranaceus
Synonyms [1]
  • Haemanthus membranaceus Baker
  • Haemanthus puniceus var. membranaceus(Baker) Baker

Scadoxus membranaceus is a flowering plant in the Amaryllidaceae family. [2] It is a bulbous plant from South Africa (east Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal). [1] 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.

Description

Scadoxus membranaceus is the smallest of the species in the genus Scadoxus . [3] It grows from a bulb from which three or four thin leaves appear. The leaf stalk (petiole) is 3–6 in (8–15 cm) long and the leaf blade 4–6 in (10–15 cm) long. The flowers are borne in an umbel about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across on the end of a leafless stem (scape). Bracts underneath the umbel (usually four) enclose it, more or less to the same height as the tips of the flowers. The bracts, which are usually coloured, persist throughout flowering and fruiting. Individual flowers are described as being green, pink or pale red in colour. The tepals are fused at the base forming a tube about a third of the length of the flower. The stamens and style are slightly longer than the flowers and so protrude. The ripe berries have been described as "especially showy". [4] [5]

Taxonomy

Scadoxus membranaceus was first named by John Gilbert Baker in 1888 as Haemanthus membranaceus. He later described it a variety of Haemanthus puniceus (now Scadoxus puniceus ). [1] Baker did not explain the origin of the specific epithet membranaceus. [5] Its usual botanical meaning is "thin, film-like, flexible". [6] He did describe the leaves as "very thin in texture", the only feature described in this way. [5]

Scadoxus had been separated from Haemanthus by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1838, [7] when he moved Haemanthus multiflorus to Scadoxus multiflorus . [8] This separation was ignored by most workers until 1976, when Scadoxus was again segregated from Haemanthus by Ib Friis and Inger Nordal. Haemanthus species form true bulbs and have 2n = 16 chromosomes, whereas Scadoxus species do not all form bulbs and have 2n = 18 chromosomes. Haemanthus species are all native to southern Africa, whereas most Scadoxus species are found in tropical Africa, although this is not true of S. membranaceus which is from eastern South Africa. [9]

Relationships

Scadoxus membranaceus is very similar in many respects to Scadoxus puniceus . The two species were shown to be closely related in phylogenetic analyses based on morphological features carried out by Nordal and Duncan. They differ in only three of the 25 characters used in the study: S. membranaceus lacks a pseudostem, S. puniceus has one; S. membranaceus has exactly four bracts below the umbel, S. puniceus has more than four; S. membranaceus has pedicels less than 1 cm long, S. puniceus has pedicels more than 1 cm long. [10]

Distribution and habitat

Scadoxus membranaceus is native to the east coast of South Africa, from the east of Cape Province in the south to KwaZulu-Natal in the north. [1] It grows in areas of coastal sand, [3] and on rocks as a lithophyte where there is sufficient accumulated material to form an open rooting medium. [4]

Cultivation

Scadoxus membranaceus is not common in cultivation, [3] but can be grown with a minimum temperature of 5 °C (41 °F), such as provided by a heated greenhouse in less favourable climates. An open growing medium is required, such as that used for orchids. Propagation is by seed. [4] Pests are those of Scadoxus generally. [11]

Toxicity

The genus Scadoxus is known to have some strongly toxic species, containing poisonous alkaloids. These are lethal to animals, such as sheep and goats, that graze on the plants. Other species of Scadoxus have been used in parts of tropical Africa as components of arrow poisons and fishing poisons. [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Hippeastrum</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Amaryllidaceae

Hippeastrum is a genus of about 90 species, and over 600 hybrids and cultivars, of perennial, herbaceous and bulbous plants, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, from Mexico south to Argentina and on some islands in the Caribbean. The majority have large, fleshy bulbs—usually about the size of a softball—and tall, broad, strap-like leaves that are (generally) evergreen, and large red or purple flowers. Numerous colors and cultivars have been created over the past hundred years.

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

Haemanthus is a Southern African genus of flowering plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. Members of the genus are known as blood lily and paintbrush lily. There are some 22 known species, native to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini. About 15 species occur in the winter rainfall region of Namaqualand and the Western Cape, the remainder being found in the summer rainfall region, with one species Haemanthus albiflos occurring in both regions.

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

Eucrosia is a genus of herbaceous, perennial and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family distributed from Ecuador to Peru. The name is derived from the Greek eu, beautiful, and krossos, a fringe, referring to the long stamens. As circumscribed in 2020, the genus contains six species. Phaedranassa and Rauhia are the genera most closely related to Eucrosia.

<i>Strumaria</i> Genus of plants

Strumaria is a genus of African plants in Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. The genus is known in nature only from South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia. Almost all species flower in the autumn and are cultivated as ornamental bulbous plants.

<i>Scadoxus puniceus</i> Species of flowering plant

Scadoxus puniceus, commonly known as the paintbrush lily, is a species of bulbous plant. It is native to much of southern and eastern Africa: Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), and South Africa. Scadoxus puniceus can be found in cool, shady habitat such as ravines and forests, where it is often found in moist leaf litter. Other common names include snake lily, royal paintbrush, King-of-Candida, African blood lily (English), rooikwas (Afrikaans), isisphompho, and umgola (Zulu). There are nine species of Scadoxus of which three, S. puniceus, S. multiflorus and S.membranaceus, occur in South Africa.

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

Scadoxus is a genus of African and Arabian plants in the Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. The English names blood lily or blood flower are used for some of the species. The genus has close affinities with Haemanthus. Species of Scadoxus are grown as ornamental plants for their brilliantly coloured flowers, either in containers or in the ground in frost-free climates. Although some species have been used in traditional medicine, they contain poisonous alkaloids.

<i>Scadoxus cyrtanthiflorus</i> Species of flowering plant

Scadoxus cyrtanthiflorus is a herbaceous plant endemic to the Rwenzori Mountains of east tropical Africa. Unusually for the genus Scadoxus its tubular blooms are pendant. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental plant in heated greenhouses.

<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.

Eucrosia mirabilis is a species of plant from Ecuador. In the original scientific description in 1869, it was believed to be from Peru, but there is little evidence it ever grew there. The plant disappeared from cultivation until it was found in Ecuador in 1997. Its natural habitats are seasonally dry lowland areas to elevations of 1500 m.

Blood lily is a common name for several plants and may refer to:

<i>Scadoxus multiflorus</i> Species of flowering plant

Scadoxus multiflorus is a bulbous plant native to most of sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Somalia to South Africa. It is also native to Arabian Peninsula and to the Seychelles. It is naturalized in Mexico and in the Chagos Archipelago.It is also found in Indian peninsula. It is grown as an ornamental plant for its brilliantly coloured flowers, either in containers or in the ground in where the climate is suitable. There are three recognized subspecies. Strongly toxic like other Scadoxus species, it has been used as a component of arrow poisons and fishing poisons, as well as in traditional medicine. Common names, some of which are used for other species, include blood lily, ball lily, fireball lily, blood flower, Katherine-wheel, oxtongue lily, poison root and powderpuff lily.

<i>Hymenocallis caribaea</i> Species of flowering plant

Hymenocallis caribaea is a plant in the Amaryllidaceae with the common names "Caribbean spider-lily" or "variegated spider-lily." It is native to the islands of the Caribbean and to northern South America. It is regarded as native to Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Cuba, the Virgin Islands, and the Windward and Leeward Islands, and the Venezuelan Antilles. It is also commonly cultivated as an ornamental in many other tropical and subtropical regions and reportedly naturalized in Sri Lanka, New South Wales, Bermuda, French Guinea, Suriname, and Guyana.

<i>Ammocharis nerinoides</i> Species of flowering plant

Ammocharis nerinoides is a plant species endemic to Namibia, known from the Gobabis and Etoshapan Districts. It occurs in desert regions in river beds occasionally flooded with seasonal rainfall. It is also cultivated elsewhere for its showy flowers.

<i>Scadoxus cinnabarinus</i> Species of flowering plant

Scadoxus cinnabarinus is a herbaceous plant from tropical rainforest in Africa. It is native to Western and Central Africa from Sierra Leone in the far west to Angola in the south. It has been reported from Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Niger, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, São Tomé, Zaire, Uganda, and Angola.

Scadoxus longifolius is a herbaceous plant from Zaire. It is only known from a single collection, and little information is available about it. It appears to be closely related to Scadoxus cinnabarinus, and Inger Nordal and Thomas Duncan suggested in 1984 that it may not be a distinct species.

Scadoxus nutans is a herbaceous plant endemic to southwest Ethiopia. Its red to pink flowers face downwards as the top of the flowering stem bends over, unlike any of the other species of Scadoxus. It grows mainly as an epiphyte in tropical mountain forests, which are disappearing, making the species vulnerable to extinction. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental plant.

<i>Scadoxus pole-evansii</i> Species of flowering plant

Scadoxus pole-evansii, commonly known as the Inyanga fireball, is a herbaceous plant endemic to mountains in east Zimbabwe. It was only discovered for science in 1960. Similar in many respects to the more widely grown Scadoxus multiflorus, it is cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Scadoxus pseudocaulus is a herbaceous plant native to Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and Gabon. Similar in many respects to Scadoxus cinnabarinus, it is cultivated as an ornamental plant but has proved reluctant to flower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haemanthinae</span> Subtribe of flowering plants

Haemanthinae is a small subtribe of Haemantheae, and therefore within the African clades of Amaryllidoideae. It consists of two genera, Haemanthus, and Scadoxus.

Strumaria discifera is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to west and south-west Cape Provinces. It was first described in 1992.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Scadoxus membranaceus", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families , Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , retrieved 2014-03-24
  2. ↑ "Scadoxus membranaceus (Baker) Friis & Nordal". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Scadoxus", Pacific Bulb Society Wiki, retrieved 2014-04-04
  4. 1 2 3 Hutchinson, J. (2007), "Scadoxus of South Africa", The Plantsman, New Series, 6 (1): 10–14
  5. 1 2 3 Baker, John Gilbert (1888), "11. H. membranaceous Baker", Handbook of the Amaryllideae, including the Alstroemerieae and Agaveae, London: Bell, retrieved 2014-04-04
  6. ↑ Beentje, Henk (2010), The Kew Plant Glossary, Richmond, Surrey: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, ISBN   978-1-84246-422-9 , p. 71
  7. ↑ Rafinesque-Smaltz, C.S. (1838), Flora Telluriana, Philadelphia, part 4, p. 19 , retrieved 2014-03-25
  8. ↑ "Scadoxus multiflorus", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families , Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , retrieved 2014-03-25
  9. ↑ Meerow, Alan W. & Clayton, Jason R. (2004), "Generic relationships among the baccate-fruited Amaryllidaceae (tribe Haemantheae) inferred from plastid and nuclear non-coding DNA sequences", Plant Systematics and Evolution, 244 (3–4): 141–155, doi:10.1007/s00606-003-0085-z, S2CID   10245220
  10. ↑ Nordal, I. & Duncan, T. (1984), "A cladistic analysis of Haemanthus and Scadoxus", Nordic Journal of Botany, 4 (2): 145–153, doi:10.1111/j.1756-1051.1984.tb01482.x
  11. ↑ Hutchinson, J. (2014), "Scadoxus of central and east Africa", The Plantsman, New Series, 13 (1): 36–42
  12. ↑ "Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf. subsp. katharinae (Bak.) Friis & Nordal", PlantZAfrica, South African National Biodiversity Institute, retrieved 2014-03-25
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