Cardiocrinum

Cardiocrinum
Cardiocrinum giganteum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Subfamily: Lilioideae
Tribe: Lilieae
Genus: Cardiocrinum
(Endl.) Lindl.[1]
Type species
Cardiocrinum cathayanum
Synonyms[2]
  • Lilium unranked Cardiocrinum Endl.

Cardiocrinum is a genus of bulbous plants of the lily family first described in 1846. They are native to the Himalaya, China, the Russian Far East, and Japan.[3] The bulbs are usually formed at the soil surface. The preferred habitat is woodland. The plants tend to be monocarpic, dying after flowering.[4]

Description

Cardiocrinum is a genus of monocarpic perennial herbs.[5]

Taxonomy

Cardiocrinum was originally described by Endlicher in 1836 as one of five sections of Lilium,[1][6] to which it is closely related. Later authors considered it a separate genus.[7] The common name is giant lilies. They differ from Lilium in some characteristics, most notably in the heart shaped leaves. The genus name alludes to these leaves, from the Greek kardia, heart, and krinon, lily.[8]

The Himalayan species Cardiocrinum giganteum is the largest of any of the lily plants, growing up to 3.5 metres high.

Species

The genus Cardiocrinum is endemic to East Asia and has three species, two of which occur in China.[7]

Image Scientific name Distribution
Cardiocrinum cathayanum (E.H.Wilson) Stearn E + C China
Cardiocrinum cordatum (Thunb.) Makino Japan, Kuril Islands, Sakhalin
Cardiocrinum giganteum (Wall.) Makino Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan, Bhutan, Assam, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim[4]

References

Bibliography

Books

  • Bolt, Philip (2018). The Genus Cardiocrinum: its identification and cultivation (PDF). Redhall Garden.
  • Endlicher, Stephanus (1836). "Lilium (Cardiocrinum)". Genera plantarum secundum ordines naturales disposita (in Latin). Vienna: Fredericum Beck. p. 141.

Articles

Websites