Nerine bowdenii

For another plant known as Guernsey lily, see Nerine sarniensis.
Nerine bowdenii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae
Genus: Nerine
Species: N. bowdenii
Binomial name
Nerine bowdenii
Watson

Nerine bowdenii is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is an herbaceous bulbous perennial, growing to 45 cm (18 in) tall by 8 cm (3 in), with strap-shaped leaves and large umbels of lily-like pink flowers in late summer and autumn.[1] The common names of the species are Cornish lily, Cape flower and Guernsey lily. However, it is neither a true lily nor from Cornwall or Guernsey, but originates from South Africa (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu/Natal, Free State, Drakensberg Mountains).[1]

The species was named in 1904 after Athelstan Hall Cornish-Bowden (1871–1942), who had sent bulbs of the plant to England from South Africa.[2][3]

Description

N. bowdenii bulbs are 12 to 14 centimetres (4.7 to 5.5 in) in circumference.[4] The bulbs are "shaped like old-fashioned Chianti bottles".[3] The plant has eight or more faintly-scented bright pink flowers with frilly tips, resembling finely-cut lilies.[5] Because the leaves do not appear until spring, the species can tolerate lower temperatures than most species in the genus Nerine.[6]

Cultivation

Nerine bowdenii is widely cultivated in temperate regions, where it requires warmth and shelter in colder areas, but is quite hardy, being able to withstand temperatures of −15 °C (5 °F).[3] It needs to be planted where it cannot be disturbed for several years, and blooms best when the bulbs are crowded. The species grows best in heat and well-drained soil.[7] However, it will not tolerate tropical or very humid weather.[8][9] It is suggested that colchicums and cyclamens are good choices of companion plants to grow with this species.[3]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[10]

Biochemistry

The bulbs of Nerine bowdenii contain an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, called ungeremine which may be suitable as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Ungeremine has also been isolated from Ungernia minor, Ungernia spiralis, Zephyranthes flava, Crinum asiaticum, Crinum augustum, Pancratium maritimum and Hippeastrum solandriflorum.[11] The bulbs also contain a number of alkaloids.[12]

Diseases

The plant virus, vallota mosaic virus has been found to infect Nerine bowdenii and other members of the Nerine genus in the UK.[13]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nerine bowdenii.
  1. 1 2 RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
  2. ↑ Athelstan Hall Cornish-Bowden (born December 4, 1871 in Newton Abbot, Devon, England ; died December 4, 1942 in Somerset West, Cape Province, South Africa) was son of Admiral William Bowden, R.N. (1826-1896) and Elizabeth Anne Cornish (1842-1919). He was the seventh of 12 children (See: The Society of Cornishes). He became a government land surveyor in South Africa, eventually rising to the post of Surveyor General of the Cape Colony. He married Lillie Cameron Muir, daughter of Sir Thomas Muir (1844-1934), mathematician and educator. In 1899 or earlier, Athelstan sent some bulbs of Nerine bowdenii to his mother in Newton Abbot, Devon, England. In 1902, she sent flowers and bulbs from the plant to Kew Herbarium with a note requesting that the species be named after her son. After some confusion, the species was named "Nerine bowdenii". [See: W. Watson, "Nerine bowdenii", The Gardeners' Chronicle, third series, vol. 36, page 365 (November 26, 1904). See also: David, J. (2008). "The Nerine bowdenii story," Report of the Proceedings of a Hardy Nerine Study Day, pages 31-41, Royal Horticultural Society Herbaceous Plant Committee and the Nerine & Amaryllid Society.]
  3. 1 2 3 4 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/3344719/How-to-grow-Nerine-bowdenii.html
  4. ↑ "Nerine bowdenii". Holland Technical Service Bulletin. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  5. ↑ Will, Giles (2007). Encyclopedia of exotic plants for temperate climates. Timber Press. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-88192-785-6.
  6. ↑ Burke, Don (2005). The complete Burke's backyard: the ultimate book of fact sheets. Murdoch Books. p. 231. ISBN 978-1-74045-739-2.
  7. ↑ Easton, Valorie; Hartlage, Richard (2002). Plant Life: Growing a Garden in the Pacific Northwest. Sasquatch Books. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-57061-305-0.
  8. ↑ Urquhart, Paul (2004). Growing Bulbs. Murdoch Books. p. 225. ISBN 978-1-74045-520-6.
  9. ↑ Raven, Sarah (2001). The bold and brilliant garden. frances lincoln ltd. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-7112-1752-2.
  10. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Nerine bowdenii". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  11. ↑ Rhee IK, I; Appels N; Hofte B; Karabatak B; Erkelens C; Stark LM; Flippin LA; Verpoorte R (November 2004). "Isolation of the Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor Ungeremine from Nerine bowdenii by Preparative HPLC Coupled On-Line to a Flow Assay System". Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin 27 (11): 1804–1809. doi:10.1248/bpb.27.1804. PMID 15516727.
  12. ↑ Lyle, R. E.; E. A. Kielar; J. R. Crowder; W. C. Wildman (1960). "The Alkaloids of Nerine bowdenii W. Wats. and Crinum moorei J. D. Hook.". Journal of the American Chemical Society 82 (10): 2620–2625. doi:10.1021/ja01495a057.
  13. ↑ Monger, W. A.; R. A. Mumford (18 July 2008). "Vallota mosaic virus infecting nerine in the UK". Plant Pathology 57 (4): 768. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3059.2008.01850.x.
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