Crinum

Crinum is a genus of about 180 species of perennial plants that have large showy flowers on leafless stems, and develop from bulbs. They are found in seasonally moist areas, including marshes, swamps, depressions and along the sides of streams and lakes in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Crinum are bulbous perennial herbsCrinum in Flora of China @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2025, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=108369 with tunicate bulbsH.J. Hewson. Crinum, in (ed.), Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Crinum [Date Accessed: 27 January 2025] and basal, glabrous,Western Australian Herbarium & Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. (n.d.-a). Crinum L. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/21237 annual to perennial leaves.Crinum. (n.d.). VicFlora Flora of Victoria. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/032b13e8-28e9-47de-b460-2efd1317b354 These bulbs can be very large. A species which Chitendon and Synge list as Crinum crassipes (a synonym of Crinum variabile) can have a bulb high and thick., exceeded only by Worsleya procera.

Generative characteristics

The bisexual, sessile or pedicellate, zygomorphic or actinomorphic flowers are borne one umbellate or solitary inflorescences with solid scapes.

Cytology Cytological studies have shown that 27 species of Crinum are diploid, having a typical chromosome count of 2n = 22. Abilio Fernandes found that the Orange River Crinum bulbispermum had a count of 2n = 66, and some desert Crinum macowanii 2n = 44. These polyploid species produce seeds that are often parthenogenetic triploid or diploids, lack vigour and seldom grow to mature plants.

Taxonomy It was published by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.Linné, Carl von, & Salvius, Lars. (1753). Caroli Linnaei ... Species plantarum :exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas... (Vol. 1, p. 291). Impensis Laurentii Salvii. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358310 The lectotype Crinum americanum was designated in 1923.

Species

, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families lists 105 species of Crinum. Amongst these are:

Crinum americanum L. – southern swamplily, seven sisters Crinum asiaticum L. – poisonbulb Crinum bulbispermum (Burm.f.) Milne-Redh. & Schweick. – hardy swamplily Crinum latifolium L. Crinum macowanii Baker Crinum moorei Hook.f. Crinum pedunculatum R.Br., syn. C. asiaticum var. pedunculatum – swamplily, river lily or spider lily Crinum thaianum Schulze – onion plant Crinum viviparum (Lam.) R.Ansari & V.J.Nair – Indian Subcontinent to Indo-China

Formerly placed here Agapanthus africanus (L.) Hoffmanns. (as C. africanum L.) Ammocharis heterostyla (Bullock) Milne-Redh. & Schweick. (as C. heterostylum Bullock) Cyrtanthus angustifolius (L.f.) Aiton (as C. angustifolius L.f.) Cyrtanthus elatus (Jacq.) Traub (as C. speciosum L.f.) Cyrtanthus obliquus (L.f.) Aiton (as C. obliquum L.f.) Hippeastrum argentinum (Pax) Hunz. (as C. argentinum Pax) Urceolina urceolata (Ruiz & Pav.) Asch. & Graebn. (as C. urceolatum Ruiz & Pav.)

Hybrids × Amarcrinum hybridised with Amaryllis C. × powellii (garden hybrid between C. bulbispermum and C. moorei) - pale pink, fragrant, lily-like flowers produced in late summer C. × powellii 'Album' (white flowered cultivar)

Etymology The generic name Crinum comes from the Ancient Greek κρίνον (krinon), meaning lily, via the Latin crinum.

Uses Several species are used in aquariums and in aquascaping. These include Crinum calamistratum, Crinum malabaricum, Crinum natans, and Crinum thaianum.

Gallery

Crinum

Bron en licentie