Babiana stricta
| Baboon flower | |
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| Babiana stricta | |
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| Species: | B. stricta
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| Binomial name | |
| Babiana stricta | |
Babiana stricta (baboon flower, blue freesia) is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae, native to Cape Province, South Africa and naturalized in Australia.[1] Growing 10–30 cm (4–12 in) tall by 5 cm (2 in) broad, it is a cormous perennial with hairy leaves 4–12 cm (2–5 in) long.[2] The leaves show linear venation.
There are many hybrids and cultivars with different colored flowers, usually blue or pink with white additions. In mid- to late spring, each flowering stem produces six or more blooms, each to 5 cm (2 in) across. They are grouped in an inflorescence and often have a pleasant lemon scent. The seeds are black with a hard coat, collected in round seed capsules.[3]
The specific epithet stricta means "erect, upright".[4]
Cultivation
B. stricta is tender (USDA Zones 8-10)[5] and in temperate zones is planted in containers and stored in winter at 5 °C (41 °F).[6]
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7]
References
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
- ^ Goldblatt, P. & Manning, J.C. (2007). A revision of the southern African genus Babiana, Iridaceae: Crocoideae. Strelitzia 18: 1-98. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
- ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
- ^ Hirt's Gardens
- ^ Van Meuwen
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Babiana stricta". Retrieved 15 July 2013.
External links
- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Babiana stricta". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.
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