Eucomis amaryllidifolia

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Eucomis amaryllidifolia
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Scilloideae
Genus: Eucomis
Species:
E. amaryllidifolia
Binomial name
Eucomis amaryllidifolia
Synonyms [1]
  • Eucomis autumnalis subsp. amaryllidifolia(Baker) Reyneke

Eucomis amaryllidifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to the Cape Provinces. [1] 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 ('rock lily'). [2]

Contents

Description

Eucomis amaryllidifolia is a short summer-growing bulbous plant, 9–20 cm (3 1⁄2–8 in) tall. Its bulb is more or less spherical, 3–4 cm (1 1⁄8–1 5⁄8 in) across, with a dark brown outer tunic. Five or six leaves emerge from the bulb, 13–30 cm (5–12 in) long and 1.5–4 cm (5⁄8–1 5⁄8 in) across. The margins of the leaves are wavy. The inflorescence is a densely packed raceme with 30–50 individual flowers. The raceme is topped by a head or "coma" formed from 13 to 20 bracts about 3 cm (1 1⁄8 in) long. The somewhat sweetly scented flowers have six yellowish green tepals, 6–8 mm (1⁄4–5⁄16 in) long by 4–5 mm (5⁄32–3⁄16 in) wide. The ovary is greenish yellow. The seeds are glossy and black. [2]

It flowers in summer and early autumn (January to March in its native South Africa). [2]

Taxonomy

Eucomis amaryllidifolia was first described by John Gilbert Baker in 1878. [1] He referred to the leaves as "Amaryllis-like" in contrast with the broader leaves of E. undulata (now a synonym of E. autumnalis ), which it otherwise resembled. [3] In 1972, William Frederick Reyneke considered the species to be merely a variety of E. autumnalis, but then, in 1980, elevated it to a subspecies, as E. autumnalis subsp. amaryllidifolia. However, later research showed that E. amaryllidifolia was one of the smaller diploid species of Eucomis , with 2n = 2x = 30, whereas E. autumnalis was one of the larger tetraploid species, with 2n = 4x = 60. Accordingly, E. amaryllidifolia is now accepted as a full species. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Eucomis amaryllidifolia is native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa, and in particular the Eastern Cape, [2] possibly extending into the Orange Free State. [4] It grows on rocky slopes and ridges, in full sun. [2]

Cultivation

Eucomis amaryllidifolia was not in general cultivation as of October 2018. In the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, it is grown in pots in an open, slightly acid medium. The pots are placed in a sunny position and watered well in summer, but kept completely dry in winter. A high potash fertilizer is used. The bulbs are considered to be hardy down to −5 °C (23 °F). Propagation is by seed, bulb slicing, leaf cuttings and tissue culture. Mealybugs can be a significant pest. [2]

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

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

Eucomis vandermerwei is a South African bulbous perennial flowering plant, a member of the asparagus family, and like other members of Eucomis is commonly known as pineapple lily for its superficial resemblance to that plant, 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, and are borne on a spike (raceme) topped by a "head" of leafy bracts.

<i>Pseudomuscari azureum</i>

Pseudomuscari azureum, the azure grape hyacinth, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Turkey. A bulbous perennial, it is grown in gardens for its spring flowers. The specific epithet azureum means "bright blue", a reference to its flower colour.

<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.

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<i>Prospero</i> (plant)

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<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.

<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 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 4 "Eucomis amaryllidifolia", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families , Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , retrieved 2018-10-10
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Duncan, G. (2013), "755. Eucomis amaryllidifolia Asparagaceae", Curtis's Botanical Magazine, 30: 49–55, doi:10.1111/curt.12016
  3. ↑ Baker, J.G. (1878), "New Garden Plants", The Gardeners' Chronicle, 10: 492, retrieved 2018-11-02
  4. ↑ Compton, James (1990). "Eucomis L'Heritier". The Plantsman. 12 (3): 129–139.
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