Crinum is a genus of about 180 species of perennial plants that have large showy flowers on leafless stems, and develop from bulbs. They are found in seasonally moist areas, including marshes, swamps, depressions and along the sides of streams and lakes in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide.

Description

thumb|right|Crinum thaianum, an aquatic species from Thailand

Vegetative characteristics

thumb|right|Large Crinum asiaticum growing as an [[invasive species in Hawaii]]

Crinum are bulbous perennial herbs with tunicate bulbs and basal, glabrous, annual to perennial leaves. These bulbs can be very large. A species which Chitendon and Synge list as Crinum crassipes (a synonym of Crinum variabile) can have a bulb high and thick., exceeded only by Worsleya procera.

Generative characteristics

thumb|right|Crinum stuhlmannii infructescences

thumb|right|Detail of Crinum × amabile flower with stamens inserted at the throat of the perianth tube

thumb|right|Germinating Crinum seed

The bisexual,

Taxonomy

It was published by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Amongst these are:

  • Crinum americanum <small>L.</small> – southern swamplily, seven sisters
  • Crinum asiaticum <small>L.</small> – poisonbulb
  • Crinum bulbispermum <small>(Burm.f.) Milne-Redh. & Schweick.</small> – hardy swamplily
  • Crinum latifolium <small>L.</small>
  • Crinum macowanii <small>Baker</small>
  • Crinum moorei <small>Hook.f.</small>
  • Crinum pedunculatum <small>R.Br.</small>, syn. C. asiaticum var. pedunculatum – swamplily, river lily or spider lily
  • Crinum thaianum <small>Schulze </small> – onion plant
  • Crinum viviparum <small>(Lam.) R.Ansari & V.J.Nair</small> – Indian Subcontinent to Indo-China

Formerly placed here

  • Agapanthus africanus <small>(L.) Hoffmanns.</small> (as C. africanum <small>L.</small>)
  • Ammocharis heterostyla <small>(Bullock) Milne-Redh. & Schweick.</small> (as C. heterostylum <small>Bullock</small>)
  • Cyrtanthus angustifolius <small>(L.f.) Aiton</small> (as C. angustifolius <small>L.f.</small>)
  • Cyrtanthus elatus <small>(Jacq.) Traub</small> (as C. speciosum <small>L.f.</small>)
  • Cyrtanthus obliquus <small>(L.f.) Aiton</small> (as C. obliquum <small>L.f.</small>)
  • Hippeastrum argentinum <small>(Pax) Hunz.</small> (as C. argentinum <small>Pax</small>)
  • Urceolina urceolata <small>(Ruiz & Pav.) Asch. & Graebn.</small> (as C. urceolatum <small>Ruiz & Pav.</small>)

Hybrids

  • × Amarcrinum hybridised with Amaryllis
  • C. × powellii (garden hybrid between C. bulbispermum and C. moorei) - pale pink, fragrant, lily-like flowers produced in late summer
  • C. × powellii 'Album' (white flowered cultivar)

Etymology

The generic name Crinum comes from the Ancient Greek κρίνον (krinon), meaning lily, via the Latin crinum.

Uses

Several species are used in aquariums and in aquascaping. These include Crinum calamistratum, Crinum malabaricum, Crinum natans, and Crinum thaianum.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="190px">

Image:Crinum moorei close.jpg|Crinum moorei

Image:Crinum moorei whole.jpg|Crinum moorei at Strybing Arboretum, San Francisco

Image:Crinum ornatum MS 1724.jpg|Crinum ornatum, SW Burkina Faso

File:Crinum species W IMG_1103.jpg|Crinum species in Hyderabad, India

File:Queen Emma Lily (a0003184).jpg|Queen Emma lily (Crinum augustum or Crinum amabile var. augustum) in Hawaiʻi

File:Crinum Lily 'Ellen Bosanquet'.jpg|Crinum 'Ellen Bosanquet'

</gallery>

See also

  • List of plants known as lily

References

Bibliography

  • (online version)
  • Pacific Bulb Society Crinum Page, includes links to photographs
  • Crinums In East Texas: Notes From Marcelle Sheppard, includes links to photographs, cultural information, and hybridizing results
  • Bulbsociety
  • The Genus Crinum
  • African Crinums
  • Bulb Society
  • Juniper Level Botanic Garden Crinum Photo Gallery