Eucomis

Wavy Schopf Lily ( Eucomis autumnalis )

The Schopf Lilies ( Eucomis ), also called pineapple lily, a plant genus of the family of asparagus plants are ( Asparagaceae ). The ten species are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, where they Pineapple Flower ( English), Pineapple Lily ( English), Wildepynappel ( Afrikaans ), Krulkoppie ( Afrikaans ) or Umathunga ( Zulu) called. Some species are used as ornamental plants.

Description

Appearance and leaves

Eucomis species grow as a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching heights of growth 6-120 centimeters depending on the type. These geophytes form pear-shaped or spherical, often large onions with a parchment-like, dark brown to black shell ( " Tunic " ) as outlasting.

Some to many almost upright to prostrate leaves are borne in a basal rosette. The simple linealischen to lanceolate or lanceolate leaf blades are upside - bald, smooth, shiny and sometimes they have purple spots or streaks. There is Parallelnervatur.

Inflorescences, flowers and pollination

Terminally on a more or less long, plain or spotted Blütenstandsschäften are dense, racemose inflorescences containing many flowers and a wreath smaller toward top expectant, foliage leaf -like, whitish or greenish, sometimes purple spotted bracts are topped (hence the botanical genus name and some the trivial name. Straddling the up more or less pendulous stalked flowers are available in several languages ​​in the axil of small bracts.

The flowers of Eucomis species are morphologically very similar to each other and differ most in the shades of color. The sometimes smelling, hermaphrodite flowers are triple. The six identically shaped, halbaren bracts are fused at their base, spread to almost upright and are cup - shaped bowl until combined. The non -grown portion of the bloom is more or less bent outwardly. The colors of the bracts are white to greenish and often spotted purple or tinted, rare ( Eucomis schijffii ), they are completely purple. There are two circles, each with three stamens present. The triangular widened stamens are fused into a shallow cup and to the base of the bloom. The three carpels are fused to an almost spherical, superior ovaries. The ovary chamber some ovules are present. The stylus is about the same as the ovary.

Can shape and color of the flowers of Eucomis Eucomis regia schijffii and suspect that they are pollinated by wasps and flies. Some species have an unpleasant smell and thus attract flies for pollination to.

Fruit and seeds

The parchment-like, egg-shaped and triangular in cross-section fruit capsules contained in each fruit trade some seeds. The shiny brown to black seeds are almost spherical to ovoid.

Chromosome numbers

The basic chromosome number is x = 15

Occurrence and risk

The genus Eucomis is distributed from southern tropical Africa to South Africa. Three types are elements of the Flore capensis.

Nine species thrive in summer rainfall areas. Only Eucomis regia thrives in winter rainfall areas. Most species occur in mont distinctive to subalpine altitudinal meadows only or mainly at higher altitudes.

Some species are on the Red List of endangered species listed in South Africa: " Vulnerable " = "at risk" is Eucomis vandermerwei. Eucomis bicolor Eucomis and pallidiflora subsp. pole - evansii are considered " Near Threatened " = " low risk". Eucomis humilis, Eucomis Eucomis schijffii and pallidiflora subsp. pallidiflora be in South Africa as "Least Concern" = " not at risk " rating.

System

The genus Eucomis was erected in 1788 by Charles Louis L' Héritier de Brut Elle in the 17th tied his Sertum Anglicum. The genus name derives from the Greek word Eucomis Eukomos (eu = good and come = hair) and means " beautiful hairy ", which refers to the inflorescence crowning leaves. Eucomis L' Hér. nom. cons. accordance with the rules of the ICBN preserved ( Vienna ICBN Art 14.4 & App. III ) against Basilaea Juss. ex Lam. nom. rej .. Another common synonym for Eucomis L' Hér. is Eucomea Sol. ex Salisb ..

The genus Eucomis belongs to subtribe Massoniinae from the tribe Hyacintheae in the subfamily Scilloideae within the family Asparagaceae. It was formerly classified in the family Liliaceae or Hyacinthaceae.

There are about ten Eucomis species:

• Wavy Schopf Lily ( Eucomis autumnalis (Mill.) Chitt. ): It occurs in South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi. There it grows in open grasslands, between rocks or swamps at altitudes 0-2450 meters. In South Africa, the stocks go back. There are three subspecies: Eucomis autumnalis subsp. amaryllidifolia ( Baker) Reyneke ( Syn: Eucomis amaryllidifolia Baker)
• Eucomis autumnalis (Mill.) Chitt. subsp. autumnalis (syn.: .. Fritillaria longifolia Hill, Eucomis regia L' Hér nom illeg, Eucomis undulata Aiton, Ornithogalum undulatum ( Aiton ) thunb Basilaea undulata ( Aiton ) Mirb. .. )
• Eucomis autumnalis subsp. clavata ( Baker) Reyneke ( Syn: Eucomis clavata Baker, Eucomis robusta Baker)

• Eucomis bicolor Baker: It comes in KwaZulu -Natal, Free State and Lesotho at higher altitudes up to 2800 meters in front. There she thrives in montane meadows along streams and moist cool rock walls in the Drakensberg. It is valid in South Africa as a " Near Threatened " = " low risk".

• Eucomis comosa ( Houtt. ) Wehrh. ( Syn: asphodel comosus Houtt, Eucomis punctata L' Hér, Fritillaria punctata (L' Hér ) JFGmel, Ornithogalum punctatum (L' Hér ) thunb Eucomea elata Salisb, Basilaea punctata (L' Hér. .. .. .. . . ) Mirb, Eucomis punctata striata var Ker Gawl, Eucomis striata ( Ker Gawl ) WTAiton, Eucomis punctata var concolor Baker): .. It occurs in the two South African provinces of Eastern Cape and KwaZulu -Natal. The stocks are over.

• Eucomis humilis Baker: This endemic species is found only in KwaZulu- Natal and is "Least Concern" = " not at risk ". It thrives in montane to subalpine meadows in the Drakensberg.

• Eucomis montana Compton: It occurs in Mpumalanga and Swaziland. The stocks are over.

• Eucomis pallidiflora Baker: It grows in mountain bogs and coastal grasslands. There are two subspecies: Eucomis pallidiflora Baker subsp. pallidiflora: It occurs in the two South African provinces of Eastern Cape and KwaZulu -Natal and is "Least Concern" = " not at risk ".
• Eucomis pallidiflora subsp. pole - evansii ( NEBr. ) Reyneke ex JCManning ( Syn: Eucomis pole - evansii NEBr. ): It occurs only in Mpumalanga and is " Near Threatened " = " low risk".

• Eucomis regia (L.) Aiton ( Fritillaria regia L., Basilaea regia (L.) Mirb. , Fritillaria nana Burm.f., Basilaea coronata Lam., Eucomis nana ( Burm.f. ) L' Hér. , Ornithogalum nanum ( Burm.f. ) Thunb., Eucomea humilis Salisb. , Eucomea regalis Salisb. , Basilaea nana ( Burm.f. ) Mirb. , Eucomis purpureocaulis Andrews, Eucomis macrophylla Baker, Eucomis pillansii L.Guthrie, Whiteheadia nana ( Burm.f. ) JWIngram ): It occurs in the two South African provinces of Northern Cape and Western Cape. It is " Least Concern " = " not at risk ".

• Eucomis schijffii Reyneke: It occurs in the two South African provinces of Eastern Cape and KwaZulu -Natal. It is " Least Concern " = " not at risk ".

• Eucomis vandermerwei Verd. It comes in Limpopo and Mpumalanga at altitudes 2200-2500 meters before and is " Vulnerable " = "at risk".

• Eucomis zambesiaca Baker: It occurs only in Limpopo and is "Least Concern" = " not at risk ".

Use

Eucomis autumnalis subsp. autumnalis, Eucomis bicolor, Eucomis comosa, Eucomis pallidiflora subsp. pole - evansii (also called giant - crested lily ) are used as ornamental plants. In frost-free areas, they are used in parks, gardens and in areas with frost cultivating them as container plants. They are also suitable as lasting cut flowers.

Although the bulbs are poisonous, vandermerwei preparations of Eucomis autumnalis and Eucomis thereof are used in folk medicine in many diseases.

Swell

• John C. Manning, Peter Goldblatt & Dee Snijman: The color encyclopedia of Cape bulbs, Timber Press, Portland and Cambridge, 2002, ISBN 0-88192-547-0. Eucomis on page 154-155 (Sections Description, distribution and systematics )
• John Manning: Field guide to wildflowers of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, 487 pages, Struik Nature, Cape Town 2009, ISBN 978-1-77007-758-4. Eucomis on page 90 (sections reporting and dissemination )