Crinum pedunculatum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Crinum pedunculatum

Crinum pedunculatum in Cooktown, Australia.

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Lilliopsida
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Genus:	Crinum
Species:	C. pedunculatum

Binomial name

Crinum pedunculatum
R. Br.

Crinum pedunculatum ^[1] also known as the Swamp Lily, River Lily, Mangrove Lily or Spider Lily is a bulbous perennial found in stream and tidal areas of the east coast of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia as well as New Guinea and some Pacific Islands.

It is not clear whether this plant is a species on itself or only a variant of the Crinum asiaticum. (i.e. C. asiaticum var. pedunculatum). The differences are subtle. C. pedunculatum as a plant tends to be somewhat smaller, but has broader petals, giving it a less fragile appearance.^[2]

It is a very large bulbous perennial plant, up to 2 to 3 metres tall, with a spread of up to 3 metres. It likes either full sun or partial shade. Usually found on the edge of forests, but also at the high tide level close to mangroves.

The white, fragrant flowers are in a cluster with 10 to 100 flowers on an umbel.

1 Cultivation and uses
2 Propagation
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Cultivation and uses

Makes a beautiful feature plant in a large garden. Prefers a fairly well shaded position. A good container plant. Needs lots of water. The sap was used as an antidote for marine stingers.

[edit] Propagation

The flowers produce a small bulb, or the larger bulbs in the ground may be transplanted.

[edit] References

Beasley, John. 2006. Plants of Tropical North Queensland: the Compact Guide. Footloose Publications, Kuranda. ISBN 1-876617-13-6.
Fay, Michael F. and Mark W. Chase. "Resurrection of Themidaceae for the Brodiaea alliance, and Recircumscription of Alliaceae, Amaryllidaceae and Agapanthoideae." Taxon, Vol. 45, No. 3. (Aug., 1996), pp. 441-451.
Scarth-Johnson, Vera. 2000. National Treasures: Flowering Plants of Cooktown and Northern Australia. Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery Association. ISBN 0646397265 (pbk.) ISBN 0646397257 Limited Edition - Leather Bound.