Wachendorfia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wachendorfia thyrsiflora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Commelinales
Family: Haemodoraceae
Genus: Wachendorfia
Burm., 1757

Wachendorfia, known as Red Root, is a genus of 25 species of cormous perennials endemic to South Africa, only a few of which are cultivated outside their own country.

Description

Wachendorfias have basal tufts of long, narrow, pleated leaves and bear erect spikes of starry, yellow flowers in spring and summer.

Their common name stems from the red sap of the corms, used as a dye, and the bright red-orange colour of the roots themselves. Red colour is a feature of many plants in the family Haemodoraceae (Haemo = Blood).[1]

Cultivation

Slightly frost hardy, Wachendorfias thrive outdoors in warm, near frost-free environments as an ornamental plant. Most require moist, well drained soils in a sunny position. Some are ideal for bog gardens.

Propagation is via seed or division.[2]

Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wachendorfia.

  • Wachendorfia thyrsiflora

  • Wachendorfia brachyandra

References

  1. ↑ Gardeners Guide to Plants & Flowers, Readers' Digest, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 1997
  2. ↑ Flora, The Gardeners Bible, ABC Publishing, Ultimo, NSW, Australia, 2005


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.