Crinum is a genus of about 180 species of that have large showy on leafless stems, and develop from . They are found in seasonally moist areas, including marshes, swamps, depressions and along the sides of streams and lakes in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide.
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Crinum are bulbous perennial herbs
[ Crinum in Flora of China @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2025, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=108369] with tunicate bulbs
[H.J. Hewson. Crinum
]
Date and basal, glabrous,
[Western Australian Herbarium & Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. (n.d.-a). Crinum
/ref> annual to perennial leaves.][ Crinum
/ref> These bulbs can be very large. A species which Chitendon and Synge list as Crinum crassipes (a synonym of Crinum variabile]
Generative characteristics
The bisexual,
Cytology
Cytological studies have shown that 27 species of Crinum are diploid, having a typical chromosome count of 2n = 22. Abilio Fernandes found that the Orange River Crinum bulbispermum had a count of 2n = 66, and some desert Crinum macowanii 2n = 44. These polyploid species produce seeds that are often parthenogenetic triploid or diploids, lack vigour and seldom grow to mature plants.
Taxonomy
It was published by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.[
/ref>]
Species
, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families lists 105 species of Crinum.
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Crinum americanum L. – southern swamplily, seven sisters
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Crinum asiaticum L. – poisonbulb
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Crinum bulbispermum (Burm.f.) Milne-Redh. & Schweick. – hardy swamplily
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Crinum latifolium L.
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Crinum macowanii Baker
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Crinum moorei Hook.f.
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Crinum pedunculatum R.Br., syn. C. asiaticum var. pedunculatum – swamplily, river lily or spider lily
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Crinum thaianum Schulze – onion plant
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Crinum viviparum (Lam.) R.Ansari & V.J.Nair – Indian Subcontinent to Indo-China
Formerly placed here
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Agapanthus africanus (L.) Hoffmanns. (as C. africanum L.)
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Ammocharis heterostyla (Bullock) Milne-Redh. & Schweick. (as C. heterostylum Bullock)
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Cyrtanthus angustifolius (L.f.) Aiton (as C. angustifolius L.f.)
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Cyrtanthus elatus (Jacq.) Traub (as C. speciosum L.f.)
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Cyrtanthus obliquus (L.f.) Aiton (as C. obliquum L.f.)
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Hippeastrum argentinum (Pax) Hunz. (as C. argentinum Pax)
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Urceolina urceolata (Ruiz & Pav.) Asch. & Graebn. (as C. urceolatum Ruiz & Pav.)
Hybrids
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× Amarcrinum hybridised with Amaryllis
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C. × powellii
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C. × powellii 'Album'
Etymology
The generic name Crinum comes from the Ancient Greek (krinon), meaning lily, via the Latin crinum.
Uses
Several species are used in and in aquascaping. These include Crinum calamistratum, Crinum malabaricum, Crinum natans, and Crinum thaianum.
Gallery
Image:Crinum moorei close.jpg| Crinum moorei
Image:Crinum moorei whole.jpg| Crinum moorei at Strybing Arboretum, San Francisco
Image:Crinum ornatum MS 1724.jpg| Crinum ornatum, SW Burkina Faso
File:Crinum species W IMG_1103.jpg| Crinum species in Hyderabad, India
File:Queen Emma Lily (a0003184).jpg|Queen Emma lily ( Crinum augustum or Crinum amabile var. augustum) in Hawaii
File:Crinum Lily 'Ellen Bosanquet'.jpg| Crinum 'Ellen Bosanquet'
See also
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List of plants known as lily
Bibliography
External links
