Agapanthus praecox Willd.
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Agapanthus praecox (Common Agapanthus[1], Blue Lily[1], African Lily[2], or Lily of the Nile[3]) is a native of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Local names for this species include agapant, bloulelie, isicakathi and ubani.[1] Most of the cultivated plants of the genus Agapanthus are hybrids or cultivars of this species.[1]
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Description
Agapanthus praecox is a variable species with open-faced flowers. It is divided into three subspecies: subsp.praecox, subsp. orientalis and subsp. minimus.[1]
subsp. praecox
This subspecies occurs in Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It usually grows to between 0.8 and 1 metre tall and has 10-11 leathery leaves. The blue flowers, appear from December to February.[1] These have perianth segments which are greater than 50 mm in length.[1]
subsp. orientalis
Closeup of the flowers from the subspecies Orientalis.
This subspecies occurs in Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal. Although it is about the same height as subsp. praecox, it has up to 20 poisonous, strap-like leaves per plant which are arching and are not leathery.[1] These range in length from 20 to 70 cm long and 3 to 5 cm wide.
[4] Flower clolour ranges from blue to white.[1][3] Shiny black seeds are produced in three-sided capsules.[3] These have perianth segments which are less than 50 mm in length.[1]
subsp. minimus
Occurring in the southeastern Western Cape and Eastern Cape, this subspecies is the smallest, ranging in height from 300 to 600 mm. It has a longer flowering season, from November to March. Flower colour includes white and various shades of blue.[1]
Naturalisation
The species is naturalised in Australia[3], New Zealand[5] and the Isles of Scilly.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Agapanthus praecox Willd.". PlantZAfrica.com. South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/agapanpraecox.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-20. [dead link]
- ^ "Taxon: Agapanthus praecox Willd.". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Area. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?410534. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
- ^ a b c d "Agapanthus - Bush Invader". http://www.weedsbluemountains.org.au/agapanthus.asp. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
- ^ "Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis (F.M.Leight.) F.M.Leight.". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=in&name=Agapanthus~praecox. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
- ^ "'Agapanthus praecox". Weeds Index. Environment Bay of Plenty. Archived from the original on 2008-06-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20080621163851/http://www.envbop.govt.nz/weeds/Weed229.asp. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
- ^ "Weird Weeds of Scilly". The Islander. http://www.islesofscillyholidays.co.uk/TheIslander/TI_03/TheIslander3-p27-30.pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
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| Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Agapanthus_praecox&oldid=428205255 |