dcsimg

Description

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Bulbous, perennial herbs. Leaves 1-few, filiform, soon caducous. Stem (inflorescence) usually climbing, bright green or glaucous, copiously and intricately branched; branches reflexed-spreading. succulent, green. Bracts minute, spurred. Flowers very numerous, green, yellowish-green or white, diurnal. Perianth segments 6, lobes spreading or reflexed, remaining attached to base of capsule in fruit. Capsule subspherical to conical, loculicidal. Seeds flattened, black, shiny.
license
cc-by-nc
copyright
Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Bowiea Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=344
author
Mark Hyde
author
Bart Wursten
author
Petra Ballings
original
visit source
partner site
Flora of Zimbabwe

Bowiea

provided by wikipedia EN

Bowiea is a genus of bulbous, perennial, succulent plants which thrive in dry and desert regions of eastern and southern Africa. It is native to a region stretching from Kenya to Cape Province.[1] The genus contains a single species, Bowiea volubilis.

The genus is named after the nineteenth-century British plant collector at Kew, James Bowie.[2][3]

Description

Close-up of flower

The plants have many overlapping scales, which form a tight, pale green, spherical bulb that grows to 8 in (20 cm) above the soil, sending up a twining fresh-green branched stem with few linear deciduous leaves. Dormant in winter, when the outer scales and many of the scale tips dry to a paper-like state, the plants burst to growth in late spring or summer, producing one or more very fast-growing stems that needs to be supported by a trellis or stake. The stems are covered with many leafless side-branches that may fall off. The small greenish-white flowers appear in spring.

Species

One species is recognized, with two subspecies[1]

  • Bowiea volubilis (climbing-onion, sea onion[4])
    • Bowiea volubilis subsp. gariepensis (van Jaarsv.) Bruyns – Namibia, Cape Province
    • Bowiea volubilis subsp. volubilis – from Cape Province to Kenya

Cultivation

The plants prefer gritty well-drained soil in partial sun to shade. Water regularly during the growing season, and rarely if at all during dormancy. Propagate from seed, divisions, or from individual scales which once removed, will eventually form numerous bulbils.

References

  1. ^ a b c Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ^ Govaerts, R. (1996). World Checklist of Seed Plants 2(1, 2): 1-492. Continental Publishing, Deurne.
  3. ^ Stedje, B. (1996). Hyacinthaceae. Flora of Tropical East Africa: 1-32.
  4. ^ Top 10 Ugly Plants

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN

Bowiea: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

Bowiea is a genus of bulbous, perennial, succulent plants which thrive in dry and desert regions of eastern and southern Africa. It is native to a region stretching from Kenya to Cape Province. The genus contains a single species, Bowiea volubilis.

The genus is named after the nineteenth-century British plant collector at Kew, James Bowie.

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN