Apodolirion is a genus of herbaceous, perennial and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae). It consists of 6 species native to Southern Africa.
Description
Vegetative characteristics Apodolirion are bulbous plantsApodolirion. (n.d.). Pacific Bulb Society. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/apodolirion with tunicate bulbs. Generative characteristics The fragrant, ephemeral, tubular,Iziko Museums of South Africa. (n.d.). Apodolirion. Biodiversity Explorer. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/plants/amaryllidaceae/apodolirion.htm delicate, solitary, sessile flower has a perianth of six tepals. The androecium consists of 6 stamens. The gynoecium consists of 3 carpels. The stigma is tri-lobed. The long, cylindrical, fragrant fruit bears many small, hard seeds.Meerow, A. W., & Clayton, J. R. (2004). Generic relationships among the baccate-fruited Amaryllidaceae (tribe Haemantheae) inferred from plastid and nuclear non-coding DNA sequences. Plant Systematics and Evolution, 244(3/4), 141–155. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23645270 Cytology The basic chromosome number is x = 6.
Taxonomy It was published by John Gilbert Baker in 1878. The lectotype species Apodolirion buchananii was designated in 1951. It is placed in the tribe Haemantheae.USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2025. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomygenus?id=857. Accessed 11 February 2025. Apodolirion and Gethyllis may represent a single genus.Conrad, F. E. R. O. Z. A. H., Reeves, G. A. I. L., Snijman, D. A., & Hedderson, T. A. (2006). Genetic relationships within the tribe Haemantheae (Amaryllidaceae) based on plastd DNA sequence data. Taxonomy and ecology of African plants, their conservation and sustainable use, 73-83. Etymology The generic name Apodolirion means "stemless flower".South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). (n.d.-a). Apodolirion amyanum. PlantZAfrica. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://pza.sanbi.org/apodolirion-amyanum Species It has six species:Apodolirion Baker. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1342-1
Apodolirion amyanum Apodolirion bolusii Apodolirion buchananii Apodolirion cedarbergense Apodolirion lanceolatum Apodolirion macowanii
Ecology Habitat It occurs in the summer rainfall regions of South Africa. Pollination The flowers are pollinated by bees. Seed dispersal The seeds are dispersed by ants.Kiepiel, I., & Johnson, S. D. (2024). Scent‐mediated bee pollination and myrmecochory in an enigmatic geophyte with pyrogenic flowering and subterranean development of fleshy fruits. American Journal of Botany, 111(11), e16421.
Conservation Apodolirion amyanum is classified as Endangered (EN) according to the Red List of South African plants.
Uses A. buchananii (known as "Natal Crocus") is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is a small plant with solitary flowers, that bloom in spring.
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