Calostemma
Calostemma is a small genus of herbaceous, perennial and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae[2]), commonly known as Wilcannia Lily. It consists of three species endemic to Australia, where they are distributed in arid regions with summer precipitation.
| Calostemma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Calostemma luteum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Amaryllidoideae |
| Genus: | Calostemma R.Br.[1] |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
Description
Members of Calostemma often flower in a leafless state, the narrow, shining-green, strap-like leaves usually preceding flowering and reaching a length of 25–30 cm. Flower colour is a purplish red or yellow with a tube sometimes paler and the anthers yellow.
Species
The list of Calostemma species, with their complete scientific name and authority, is given below.[3]
- Calostemma abdicatum P.J.Lang,[4] distributed in South Australia.
- Calostemma luteum Sims,[5] from Center Queensland to South Australia.
- Calostemma purpureum R.Br.,[6] South Central and South Eastern Australia.
Uses
Due to their large and showy flowers, members of this genus are used as ornamental plants.
References
- Prodr.: 297 (1810).
- Stevens, P.F., Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Asparagales: Amaryllidoideae
- Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. World Checklist of Monocotyledons: Calostemma . Accessed May 26, 2009.
- J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 22: 49 (2008).
- Bot. Mag. 46: t. 2101 (1819).
- Prodr.: 298 (1810).
Bibliography
- Cooper, H.M. 1971. Notes and observations on Calostemma purpureum. S. Austral. Nat. 45(4): 112–114.
- Clark, T., Parsons, R.F. 1994. Ecology of Calostemma and Crinum (Amaryllidaceae) in the River Murray area, south-eastern Australia. Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria 106: 129–145.