Eucomis bicolor

Eucomis bicolor
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Scilloideae
Tribe: Hyacintheae
Subtribe: Massoniinae
Genus: Eucomis
L'Hér.
Species: E. bicolor
Baker[1]

Eucomis bicolor (variegated pineapple lily) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Southern Africa (the Cape Provinces, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, and the Northern Provinces).[2] It is a bulbous perennial growing to 30–60 cm (12–24 in) in height, with a basal rosette of wavy leaves 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long. In late summer it produces a stout stem bearing racemes of pale green, purple margined flowers with a terminal rosette of pale green leafy bracts. At close quarters it has an unpleasant smell.[3][4]

The Latin specific epithet bicolor means "two-coloured".[5]

In cultivation it is not frost-hardy (Zones 8-10) and requires a winter mulch in colder areas (Zones 6 and 7) to ensure winter survival.[6] It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit[7]

The homoisoflavanones eucomin, eucomol,[8] (E)-7-O-methyl-eucomin, (—)-7-O-methyleucomol, (+)-3,9-dihydro-eucomin and 7-O-methyl-3,9-dihydro-eucomin[9] can be isolated from bulbs of E. bicolor.

References

  1. "Eucomis bicolor". EOL (Encyclopedia of Life). Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  2. "Eucomis bicolor". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  3. "August 2011 Plant Profile: Eucomis bicolor". University of Washington Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  4. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
  5. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  6. Fine Gardening: Eucomis bicolor
  7. "Eucomis bicolor AGM". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  8. Homoisoflavanones and Biogenetically Related Compounds. W. Heller and Ch. Tamm, Fortschritte der Chemie organischer Naturstoffe / Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products, 1981, Volume 40, pages 105-152, doi:10.1007/978-3-7091-8611-4_3
  9. Homoisoflavonones. IV. New constituents of the eucomin series of Eucomis bicolor (author's transl). Heller W, Andermatt P, Schaad W A and TAMM C, Helvetica chimica acta, 29 september 1976, volume 59, issue 6, pages 2048-2058, PubMed, doi:10.1002/hlca.19760590618
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