Clivia
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 Clivia miniata
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C. caulescens |
Clivia is a genus of monocot flowering plants native to southern Africa. They are from the family Amaryllidaceae. Common names are Bush lily, Kaffir lily.
They are non-woody perennial plants, with dark green, strap-like leaves. These leaves produce clusters bell-shaped flowers on a stalk above the foliage. The flowers somewhat resemble those of certain varieties of Lilium or Amaryllis. Orange is the most common colour but there are also Peach, Near White, Apricot, Red and Yellow varieties.
Of the six known species, Clivia miniata is the most widely cultivated, and hybrid varieties with flowers ranging from deep red-orange to pale yellow have been bred by growers around the world, particularly in South Africa, Australia, Japan, USA, Belgium, France and China.
C. miniata, C. gardenii, C. robusta and C. caulescens seedlings flower after three to four years, while the yellow varieties may take longer. C. nobilis will flower after seven or eight years. It is reported that C. mirabilis also takes about 6 years to flower.
Specimens were gathered by British explorers William Burchell and John Bowie in 1815 and 1820, respectively. Clivia nobilis became the first named species when in 1828 the Kew botanist John Lindley named it in honor of Lady Charlotte Florentia Clive, Duchess of Northumberland (1787-1866)[1], who was for a time the governess of the future Queen Victoria. [2] [3]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Clivia. San Marcos Growers. URL accessed April 8, 2006.
- ^ Clivia Forum. The Clivia Forum.
- ^ Clivia Base. South African Clivia Website.
