Bulbinella

Bulbinella
Bulbinella triquetra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Bulbinella
Kunth[1]
Synonyms[1]

Chrysobactron Hook.f.

Bulbinella is a genus of plant in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, first described as a genus in 1843.[2] Many species are endemic to Cape Province in western South Africa, confined to the winter rainfall area. Other species are endemic to New Zealand, where they are most common in the central Otago region which enjoys a similar climate to the Cape Region of South Africa.[1][3][4]

Description

They are characterised by the presence of a dense terminal raceme of flowers, often yellow but also white, pink, yellow or orange depending on the species. One of the New Zealand species only species with white and yellow flowers. Each flower occurs in the axil of a bract and has 1 nerved perianth segments that are almost free. Each flower has 6 stamens. The seeds are characteristically shield shaped and there are one or two seeds in each chamber.

The plants may grow up to 1 metre in height and have narrow or thread like but never succulent leaves. The leaves decay into prominent fibres at the base of the stem, often netted or reticulate in appearance, although this feature is absent from the New Zealand species. They tend to overwinter and aestivate with wiry or swollen tubers.

Species[1]
  1. Bulbinella angustifolia (Cockayne & Laing) L.B.Moore - South Island of New Zealand
  2. Bulbinella barkerae P.L.Perry - Caledon + Bredasdorp in Cape Province of South Africa
  3. Bulbinella calcicola J.C.Manning & Goldblatt - Cape Province of South Africa
  4. Bulbinella caudafelis (L.f.) T.Durand & Schinz - Cape Province of South Africa
  5. Bulbinella chartacea P.L.Perry - Clanwilliam + Worcester in Cape Province of South Africa
  6. Bulbinella ciliolata Kunth - Namaqualand in Cape Province of South Africa
  7. Bulbinella divaginata P.L.Perry - Cape Province of South Africa
  8. Bulbinella eburniflora P.L.Perry - Calvinia in Cape Province of South Africa
  9. Bulbinella elata P.L.Perry - Cape Province of South Africa
  10. Bulbinella elegans Schltr. ex P.L.Perry - Cape Province of South Africa
  11. Bulbinella floribunda (Aiton) T.Durand & Schinz - Yellow Cat-tail - Cape Province of South Africa
  12. Bulbinella gibbsii Cockayne - North + South Islands of New Zealand
  13. Bulbinella gracilis Kunth - Cape Province of South Africa
  14. Bulbinella graminifolia P.L.Perry - Cape Province of South Africa
  15. Bulbinella hookeri (Colenso ex Hook.) Cheeseman - Maori Lily - North + South Islands of New Zealand
  16. Bulbinella latifolia Kunth - Cape Province of South Africa
  17. Bulbinella modesta L.B.Moore - North + South Islands of New Zealand
  18. Bulbinella nana P.L.Perry - Richtersveld in Cape Province of South Africa
  19. Bulbinella nutans (Thunb.) T.Durand & Schinz - Cape Province of South Africa
  20. Bulbinella potbergensis P.L.Perry - Cape Province of South Africa
  21. Bulbinella punctulata Zahlbr. - Cape Province of South Africa
  22. Bulbinella rossii (Hook.f.) Cheeseman - Ross Lily - Auckland Islands + Campbell Islands of New Zealand
  23. Bulbinella talbotii L.B.Moore - Gouland Downs on South Island of New Zealand
  24. Bulbinella trinervis (Baker) P.L.Perry - Cape Province of South Africa
  25. Bulbinella triquetra (L.f.) Kunth - Cape Province of South Africa

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ↑ Stevens, P.F., Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Asparagales: Asphodeloideae
  3. ↑ Moore, L.B. & Edgar, E. (1970). Flora of New Zealand 2: 1-354. R.E.Owen, Government Printer, Wellington.
  4. ↑ Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.) (2003). Plants of Southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14.: i-vi, 1-1231. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.