Agapanthus praecox

Agapanthus praecox
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
clade:	Angiosperms
clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily:	Agapanthoideae
Genus:	Agapanthus
Species:	A. praecox
Binomial name
Agapanthus praecox Willd.

Agapanthus praecox (Common Agapanthus^[1], Blue Lily^[1], African Lily^[2], or Lily of the Nile^[3]) is a native of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Local names for this species include agapant, bloulelie, isicakathi and ubani.^[1] Most of the cultivated plants of the genus Agapanthus are hybrids or cultivars of this species.^[1]

Description

Agapanthus praecox is a variable species with open-faced flowers. It is divided into three subspecies: subsp.praecox, subsp. orientalis and subsp. minimus.^[1]

subsp. praecox

This subspecies occurs in Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It usually grows to between 0.8 and 1 metre tall and has 10-11 leathery leaves. The blue flowers, appear from December to February.^[1] These have perianth segments which are greater than 50 mm in length.^[1]

subsp. orientalis

Closeup of the flowers from the subspecies Orientalis.

This subspecies occurs in Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal. Although it is about the same height as subsp. praecox, it has up to 20 poisonous, strap-like leaves per plant which are arching and are not leathery.^[1] These range in length from 20 to 70 cm long and 3 to 5 cm wide.

^[4] Flower colour ranges from blue to white.^[1][3] Shiny black seeds are produced in three-sided capsules.^[3] These have perianth segments which are less than 50 mm in length.^[1]

subsp. minimus

Occurring in the southeastern Western Cape and Eastern Cape, this subspecies is the smallest, ranging in height from 300 to 600 mm. It has a longer flowering season, from November to March. Flower colour includes white and various shades of blue.^[1]

Naturalisation

The species is naturalised in Australia^[3], New Zealand^[5] and the Isles of Scilly.^[6]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} "Agapanthus praecox Willd.". PlantZAfrica.com. South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/agapanpraecox.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-20. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "Taxon: Agapanthus praecox Willd.". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Area. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?410534. Retrieved 2008-07-20. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} "Agapanthus - Bush Invader". http://www.weedsbluemountains.org.au/agapanthus.asp. Retrieved 2008-07-20. 
4. ^ "Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis (F.M.Leight.) F.M.Leight.". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=in&name=Agapanthus~praecox. Retrieved 2008-07-20. 
5. ^ "'Agapanthus praecox". Weeds Index. Environment Bay of Plenty. Archived from the original on 2008-06-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20080621163851/http://www.envbop.govt.nz/weeds/Weed229.asp. Retrieved 2008-07-20. 
6. ^ "Weird Weeds of Scilly". The Islander. http://www.islesofscillyholidays.co.uk/TheIslander/TI_03/TheIslander3-p27-30.pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-20. 

External links

• PlantZAfrica.com - Agapanthus praecox