Lachenalia viridiflora

Lachenalia viridiflora, commonly known as the green-flowered Cape cowslip or turquoise hyacinth,[3][4] is a species of flowering plant in the asparagus family native to the southwest Cape Provinces of South Africa.[5] It was discovered in the 1960s, and first described in 1972 by Winsome Fanny Barker.[6]

Lachenalia viridiflora
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Scilloideae
Genus: Lachenalia
Species:
L. viridiflora
Binomial name
Lachenalia viridiflora

Description

Lachenalia viridiflora is a bulbous species of perennial plant that grows 8-20cm tall.[7] Each plant grows two leaves, which may be plain or with dark spots.[3] In the winter, plants produce racemes of tubular turquoise flowers with white tips;[3] it is for this reason that Barker chose the specific epithet 'viridiflora', which is Latin for green-flowered.[6] The flowers are pollinated by the lesser double-collared sunbird.[6]

Habitat and distribution

Lachenalia viridiflora is endemic to the Vrendenburg Peninsula, where there are two extant sub-populations.[1] It grows in full sun on granite outcrops in sandy soil which becomes waterlogged in the winter.[6][7] Lachenalia viridiflora is an endangered species, and is threatened by habitat loss and overgrazing.[1]

Cultivation

Lachenalia viridiflora is cultivated as a garden ornamental, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3] Plants can be propagated through somatic embryogenesis,[8] leaf cuttings, and by sowing seeds.[6]

References
  1. "Lachenalia viridiflora". redlist.sanbi.org. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  2. J. S. African Bot. 38: 179 (1972)
  3. "Lachenalia viridiflora green-flowered Cape cowslip". The Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  4. "Turquoise hyacinth". Temperate House. Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  5. "Lachenalia viridiflora W.F.Barker". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  6. Duncan, Graham (June 2003). "Lachenalia viridiflora". pza.sanbi.org. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  7. "Lachenalia viridiflora W.F.Barker". worldfloraonline.org. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  8. Kumar, Vijay; Moyo, Mack; Van Staden, Johannes (2016-11-01). "Enhancing plant regeneration of Lachenalia viridiflora, a critically endangered ornamental geophyte with high floricultural potential". Scientia Horticulturae. 211: 263–268. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2016.08.024. ISSN 0304-4238.
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