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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