Eucomis comosa
| Eucomis comosa | |
|---|---|
| |
| 1806 illustration [1] | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Scilloideae |
| Genus: | Eucomis |
| Species: | E. comosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Eucomis comosa | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Eucomis comosa (pineapple flower, pineapple lily, wine eucomis) is a species of flowering plant in the asparagus family Asparagaceae (subfamily Scilloideae). A deciduous bulbous perennial growing to 100 cm (39 in) tall by 50 cm (20 in) broad, it is endemic to South Africa.[2]
From a basal rosette of leaves it produces a flower spike clothed in small starry flowers on a stout purple spine. The overall effect is of a miniature pineapple plant (Ananas comosus), though in fact the two species are not closely related.[3] They do share the Latin specific epithet comosus/comosa, meaning “tufted”.[4]
Eucomis comosa is found as an ornamental plant with numerous cultivars. In the UK the cultivar ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[3][5] Though it is hardy down to −5 °C (23 °F), it needs a sheltered spot in full sun, and a protective mulch in winter.[3]
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Mature flower -
Flower of paler form
References
- ^ Botanical Magazine, Plate No. 913, http://www.nalusda.gov/curtis/spottedlee.shtml S. Edwards, Sansum
- ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ a b c "RHS Plantfinder - Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'". Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 184533731X.
- ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 37. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
External links
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