Tecophilaea cyanocrocus

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Tecophilaeaceae
Genus:	Tecophilaea
Species:	T. cyanocrocus
Binomial name
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus Leyb.

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus (Chilean blue crocus) is a flowering perennial plant that is native to Chile, growing at 2,000 to 3,000 m (6,600 to 9,800 ft) elevation on dry, stony slopes in the Andes mountains. Although it had survived in cultivation due to its use as a greenhouse and landscape plant, it was believed to be extinct in the wild due to overcollecting, overgrazing, and general destruction of habitat, until it was rediscovered in 2001.^[1][2]

Description

In its native habitat, the plant blooms from October to November, which is springtime in the Southern Hemisphere. In northern climates, it flowers from February to March. The common name, Chilean blue crocus, is due to the deep blue flowers resembling Crocus flowers, even though Tecophilaea cyanocrocus is not related to Crocus.^[1]

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus grows on stems up to 4 in (10 cm) tall, with 1-3 linear fleshy leaves. The single flowers are approximately 1 in (2.5 cm) across, goblet shaped, and are an unusual deep gentian blue color, with a whitish center. The root is a nearly sphere-shaped corm with a fibrous cover.^[2]

Taxonomy

The genus Tecophilaea was named after Tecofila Billiotti, the daughter of a professor Colla of Turin. There are only two species in the genus, the other being Tecophilaea violiflora. The genus was originally placed in the family Amaryllidaceae, eventually being split from that family and becoming the type for the family Tecophilaeaceae.^[2]

There are a number of cultivars of tecophilaea. Two of these, 'Violacea' with deep purple flowers, and 'Leichtlinii' with white centers to the flowers, have been in cultivation for many years and are well known among bulb fanciers. By crossing these with each other and with the solid blue type form, other cultivars such as 'Storm Cloud' have been developed in recent years.

The Tecophilaea cyanocrocus cultivar 'Violacea' should not be confused with the species Tecophilaea violiflora.

Cultivation

T. cyanocrocus is hardy in USDA Zones 9-10; in essentially frost-free mild climate areas^[3] (e.g. New Zealand, Ireland, much of northern California) Tecophilaea cyanocrocus may be successfully grown in open rock gardens exposed to the weather. However, tecophilaea is somewhat frost-tender and cannot withstand hard freezes. Where winter freezes may occur, such as the Pacific Northwest, tecophilaea is best grown in containers that can be protected from very cold weather. Nonetheless, as long as the temperature does not drop much below freezing, tecophilaea is healthier for being kept in the open during winter.

Tecohilaea grows best in a well drained, circum-neutral (pH 6-7) soil. The corms go dormant during summer, and water should be entirely withheld once the foliage fades after the springtime period of active growth. However, tecophilaea does not benefit from the summer baking that most tulips and many crocuses benefit from. On the contrary, tecophilaea prefers dry, but rather cool soil in summer. Putting the pots in which it is grown in the shade, out of direct sun, is desirable. Water should be withheld until new growth appears in the fall as the soil cools, then increased. In climates with heavy winter rains such as the Pacific Northwest, tecophilaea is best kept out of the rain.

When active growth begins in the fall, tecophilaea will benefit from being fed with a dilute solution of a low-nitrogen fertilizer once every week or two. Foliar feeding with a spray of fertilizer solution is also practical, and has the advantage that the fertilizer will not alter the soil chemistry.

The plant is typically propagated through corm offsets.^[1] Seed can be obtained by careful hand pollination of the flowers, but seedlings reach flowering size very slowly.

The foliage of tecophilaea is very scanty and the corms are weakened when the foliage is damaged. Tecophilaea must be diligently protected against pests that may eat the foliage: caterpillars, slugs, and deer, for example.

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} Skinner, Sue (02-08-2011). "The Chilean blue crocus, a real eyeful - and it's not a crocus!". Kew Plants. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.kew.org/news/kew-blogs/chilean-blue-crocus.htm. Retrieved 1 March 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Bryan, John Thomas Ingram (2002). Bulbs. Portland, Or: Timber Press. p. 439. ISBN 0-88192-529-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=v-h4dovkqxgC&pg=PA439. 
3. ^ Overplanted: Tecophilaea cyanocrocus'.

External links

• IPNI listing