Pancratium canariense

Taxobox
name = "Pancratium canariense"

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = Photo: Juan Bibiloni
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Asparagales
familia = Amaryllidaceae
genus = "Pancratium"
species = "P. canariense"
binomial = "Pancratium canariense"
binomial_authority = Ker Gawler
synonyms = "Bollaea canariensis" (Ker Gawler) Parl.
"Narcissus canariensis" (Ker Gawler) Burbidge
"Pancratium teneriffae" Willd.

"Pancratium illyricum" ot the Canary Sea Daffodil is a species of "Amaryllidaceae" native to the Canary Islands. It grows on north facing slopes in good light, not exposed to hot burning sun and not baking drought. It grows in fertile soil between rocks and shrubs. It flowers in the early autumn. The name canariense mean "from the Canary Islands".

Description

Bulbous perennial with glaucous leaves. It forms quite large bulbs (12-15 cm diameter) with a short neck. The plant is winter growing and summer dormant. Scape to 80 cm. Flowers in a multiflowered umbel, white with a corona. Very fragrant. Flowers in the fall."Pancratium illyricum" from souther Europe is very similar. It has narrower leaves, shorter flower-stalks and flowers in the spring.

Cultivation

Easy to grow and flowers freely if planted in a sunny spot. It does not tolerate frost, but should be very good for coastal Californian gardens in the fog belt. Hardy to USDA zone 10.

References

*Walters, S.M. The European Garden Flora, Vol. 1. Pteridophyta; Gymnospermae; Angiospermae--Alismataceae to Iridaceae. ISBN 0-521-24859-0