Romulea bulbocodium

Romulea bulbocodium

Romulea bulbocodium ( Syn: Ixia bulbocodium (L.) L.), as several species of the genus in the German and sand crocus or crocus are called, is a species of the genus Scheinkrokusse ( Romulea ) in the family of Iris Family ( Iridaceae ).

Features

Romulea bulbocodium is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches the heights of growth 3-18 centimeters. This Geophyt forms tubers than outlasting. The two to four leaves are wrinkled, green, brighter on the bottom and measure 15 × 0.1 to 0.2 centimeters.

The stem is a - ( or six - ) flowered. The flowers are surrounded by two bracts. The outer bract is narrow hautrandig, the interior is quite broad and membranous. The Perigon has a length (18) 25-35 (50 ) mm, the tube 3.5 to 8 millimeters and the tip (15) 22-25 (40) millimeters. The perianth is elliptical, pointed and bright colored violet with darker nerves. Rarely it is yellow ( Romulea bulbocodium var Croce ( Boiss. et Heldr. ) Baker) or white and at the bottom greenish purple overrun ( Romulea bulbocodium var leichtliniana ( Halácsy ) Beg. ). The throat is hairy and yellow. The scar is sechsstrahlig and dominates the dust bag.

The flowering period extends from March to April.

Occurrence

Romulea bulbocodium occurs in dry meadows and thickets in the Mediterranean region. In Italy it is found at altitudes 0-1200 meters.

Use

Romulea bulbocodium is rarely used in areas where viticulture climate as an ornamental plant in rock gardens. He is regarded as a lover plant and in culture at least since 1720.

Documents

• Eckhart 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.