Cypella

Cypella
Cypella coelestis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Iridoideae
Tribe: Tigridieae
Genus: Cypella
Herb.,

Bot. Mag. 53: t. 2637 (1826).
Type species
Cypella herbertii
(Lindley) Herbert
Species

See text.

Cypella is a genus of herbaceous, perennial and bulbous plants in the Iris family (Iridaceae). It comprises about 22 species distributed in South America, from Peru and Brazil to Northern Argentina. The genus name is likely derived from the Greek word kyphella, meaning "hollow of the ear", and alludes to the shape of the inner tepals.[1]

Contents

Description

Members of Cypella bear basal leaves which arise from small corms, and slender flowering stems are usually branched into several flower clusters with tightly rolled bracts. The colourful delicate blooms each have 3 long tepals like a 3-pointed star, and 3 smaller ones. They bloom in yellows, oranges and blues usually with darker brown or purplish markings.

List of species

Based on DNA and morphological features, the Southamerican genera Kelissa and Onira are now included in Cypella.[2]

Paraguay to NE. Argentina.

Economic importance

Some species of Cypella are used as ornamental plants. They are half hardy and may survive the outdoors in cool areas if planted near a sunny wall. They will need well drained soil with full sun. They can be propagated by seeds in the spring.

References

  1. ^ Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2008). The Iris Family: Natural History & Classification. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 238–39. ISBN 0-88192-897-6. 
  2. ^ Goldblatt, P. & John Manning. 2008. The Iris Family: Natural History & Classification. Timber Press, 290 pp. ISBN 9780881928976

Bibliography

External links