| Albuca | |
|---|---|
| Albuca shawii | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| clade: | Angiosperms |
| clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Scilloideae |
| Genus: | Albuca L. |
| Species | |
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See text. |
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Albuca is a genus of plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae.[1] Most of the 100-140 species of bulbous plants in this genus are endemic to Southern Africa.[2]
Only a few are commonly cultivated, though many more species would be rewarding subjects, especially in pots, or in small gardens where their exotic appearance makes them useful as specimen plants. Leaves range in length from 3 in(8 cm) to 4 ft(1.2 m) and may be flat or keeled. They generally are fleshy and sappy. The juice is mucilaginous, giving the genus the plants the common name "slime lilies" in some areas.[2] The flowers of some species are scented, especially at night. They are borne in racemes, usually slender, but flat-topped in some species. Florets may be on stiff, or slender, nodding stalks.[2] Some of the smallest species have only one or two florets on a stalk, barely amounting to anything clearly resembling a raceme. In colour the flowers range from yellow to white, many species with a greenish or yellowish tinge. Most species also have a broad green, longitudinal band down the middle of each tepal. They have 6 tepals in a bell shape. The flowers generally have a characteristic shape resulting from the fact that the outer three tepals are free-standing and differ radically from the inner three that stand erect with thick, flap-like tips, effectively forming a fleshy tube. The fruiting capsule typically has many flattened or angular black seeds.
The most popular species is Albuca nelsonii, which is evergreen and not frost-hardy. Such species are best suited to temperate areas, but can be grown in a conservatory or greenhouse, or in a sheltered position if light frosts might occur. However, some other species from alpine or Karoo-like areas are fairly frost-resistant and may be deciduous, and accordingly can stand a good deal of frost once established. Some in fact are winter-flowering. [3] As a rule they do well in full sun in light, free-draining soil. Propagate from offsets or seed.