Eremurus robustus

Giant Steppe candle ( eremurus robustus )

The Giant Steppe candle ( eremurus robustus ), also called Cleopatra's Needle, is a species of the genus steppe Candles ( eremurus ) in the subfamily Asphodelus ( Asphodeloideae ).

Features

The Giant Steppe candle is a perennial, herbaceous plant that forms a rhizome and plant height of 100 to 200 (300) achieves centimeter. The leaves are keeled and gray-green. The inflorescence is 35 to 110 inches long. The cover sheets are pulled out long, ciliated triangular and shaggy. The flower stems have a length up to 35 mm, are upstanding, even during the heyday nearly horizontal. The tepals have a length of 17-18 mm and are colored light pink, only the reason they are yellow. The outer ones are only half as wide as the inner ones. The fruit capsules are spherical, smooth and have a diameter of usually 20 to 25 (15 to 30) millimeters.

The flowering time is in June.

Occurrence

The distribution area includes Pamir - Alai and West Tian Chan. Here the giant steppe candle occurs on rocky slopes and fine earth rich and often in rose bushes at altitudes 1600-3100 meters.

Use

The Giant Steppe candle is scattered used as an ornamental plant. It is in culture at least since 1871.

Documents

• Corner Hardt J. Hunter, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd Müller K. (ed.): Rothmaler Exkursionsflora of Germany. Volume 5: Herbaceous ornamental and useful plants. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 2008, ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8.