Eucrosia mirabilis is a species of plant from Ecuador. In the original scientific description in 1869, it was believed to be from Peru, but there is little evidence it ever grew there.[3] The plant disappeared from cultivation until it was found in Ecuador in 1997.[3][4] Its natural habitats are seasonally dry lowland areas to elevations of 1500 m.[3]
Eucrosia mirabilis | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
Subfamily: | Amaryllidoideae |
Genus: | Eucrosia |
Species: | E. mirabilis
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Binomial name | |
Eucrosia mirabilis | |
Synonyms | |
Callipsyche mirabilis Baker |
It grows from bulbs around 7 cm in diameter. One to three blue-green stalked (petiolate) leaves appear after flowering, with blades (laminae) 40 cm long by 20 cm wide. About 30 zygomorphic flowers, which are yellow-green, are produced in an umbel on a 60–90 cm tall stem (scape); the stamens have prominent long white filaments. In its natural habitat, flowering is August to December. The flowers are thought to be adapted for butterfly pollination, but a single report of hummingbird visitation is recorded for this species.[4][5]
In cultivation, plants should be kept warm and dry when the leaves wither, and watered only when the flowers or leaves begin to grow again, when a sunny position is required.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Eucrosia mirabilis (Baker) Pax". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
- ^ "Eucrosia mirabilis (Baker) Pax". World Flora Online. The World Flora Online Consortium. n.d. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c Mathew, Brian; Lewis, Gwilym (2006), "Eucrosia mirabilis", Curtis's Botanical Magazine, 23 (2): 157–162, doi:10.1111/j.1355-4905.2006.00525.x
- ^ a b c Grossi, Alberto (2010), "Eucrosia in cultivation", The Plantsman, New Series, 9 (4): 239–244
- ^ Meerow, Alan W. (1987), "A Monograph of Eucrosia (Amaryllidaceae)", Systematic Botany, 12 (4): 460–492, doi:10.2307/2418883, JSTOR 2418883