Eucrosia mirabilis
| Eucrosia mirabilis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Amaryllidoideae |
| Genus: | Eucrosia |
| Species: | E. mirabilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Eucrosia mirabilis (Herb.) Pax | |
Eucrosia mirabilis is a species of plant from Ecuador. In the original scientific description in 1869, it was believed to be from Peru, but there is little evidence it ever grew there.[1] The plant disappeared from cultivation until it was found in Ecuador in 1997.[1][2] Its natural habitats are seasonally dry lowland areas to elevations of 1500 m.[1]
It grows from bulbs around 7 cm in diameter. One to three blue-green stalked (petiolate) leaves appear after flowering, with blades (laminae) 40 cm long by 20 cm wide. About 30 zygomorphic flowers, which are yellow-green, are produced in an umbel on a 60–90 cm tall stem (scape); the stamens have prominent long white filaments. In its natural habitat, flowering is August to December. The flowers are thought to be adapted for butterfly pollination, but a single report of hummingbird visitation is recorded for this species.[2][3]
In cultivation, plants should be kept warm and dry when the leaves wither, and watered only when the flowers or leaves begin to grow again, when a sunny position is required.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 Mathew, Brian; Lewis, Gwilym (2006), "Eucrosia mirabilis", Curtis's Botanical Magazine, 23 (2): 157–162
- 1 2 3 Grossi, Alberto (2010), "Eucrosia in cultivation", The Plantsman (New Series), 9 (4): 239–244
- ↑ Meerow, Alan W. (1987), "A Monograph of Eucrosia (Amaryllidaceae)", Systematic Botany, 12 (4): 460–492, doi:10.2307/2418883, JSTOR 2418883