Eucomis comosa

Eucomis comosa
1806 illustration [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Monocots
Order:Asparagales
Family:Asparagaceae
Subfamily:Scilloideae
Genus:Eucomis
Species: E. comosa
Binomial name
Eucomis comosa
Hort. ex Wehrh.
Synonyms[2]
  • Asphodelus comosus Houtt.
  • Eucomis punctata L'Hér.
  • Fritillaria punctata (L'Hér.) J.F.Gmel.
  • Ornithogalum punctatum (L'Hér.) Thunb.
  • Eucomea elata Salisb.
  • Basilaea punctata (L'Hér.) Mirb.
  • Eucomis punctata var. striata Ker Gawl.
  • Eucomis striata (Ker Gawl.) W.T.Aiton
  • Eucomis punctata var. concolor Baker in W.H.Harvey
Purple cultivar

Eucomis comosa (pineapple flower, pineapple lily, wine eucomis) is a species of flowering plant in the asparagus family Asparagaceae (subfamily Scilloideae). A deciduous bulbous perennial growing to 100 cm (39 in) tall by 50 cm (20 in) broad, it is endemic to South Africa.[2]

From a basal rosette of leaves it produces a flower spike clothed in small starry flowers on a stout purple spine. The overall effect is of a miniature pineapple plant (Ananas comosus), though in fact the two species are not closely related.[3] They do share the Latin specific epithet comosus/comosa, meaning “tufted”.[4]

Eucomis comosa is found as an ornamental plant with numerous cultivars. In the UK the cultivar ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[3][5] Though it is hardy down to −5 °C (23 °F), it needs a sheltered spot in full sun, and a protective mulch in winter.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Botanical Magazine, Plate No. 913, http://www.nalusda.gov/curtis/spottedlee.shtml S. Edwards, Sansum
  2. 1 2 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. 1 2 3 "RHS Plantfinder - Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'". Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  4. ↑ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 184533731X.
  5. ↑ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 37. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  • Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.


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