Fritillaria persica is a Middle Eastern species of flowering plant in the lily family Liliaceae, native to southern Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus and Israel.[2][3] It is widely cultivated as an ornamental and naturalized in the Lazio region of Italy.[4] It is the sole species in Fritillaria subgenus Theresia.

Fritillaria persica
Inflorescence
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Subfamily: Lilioideae
Tribe: Lilieae
Genus: Fritillaria
Species:
F. persica
Binomial name
Fritillaria persica
Synonyms[1]
Synonymy
  • Fritillaria arabica Gand.
  • Fritillaria eggeri Bornm.
  • Fritillaria libanotica (Boiss.) Baker
  • Fritillaria nobilis Salisb.
  • Theresia libanotica Boiss.
  • Theresia persica (L.) K.Koch
  • Tozzettia persica (L.) Parl.

The Latin specific epithet persica means "Persian", referring to the modern country of Iran.[5]

Fritillaria persica is a robust bulbous perennial growing 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall. Each plant may bear up to 30, conical, narrow, bell-shaped flowers, up to 0.75 in (1.9 cm) long, ranging in colour from deep purple to greenish brown.[6][7]

A plant commonly found in cultivation outside its range is the cultivar 'Adiyaman', which is taller and more free-flowering than populations of the species inside its native range.[7] This cultivar has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[8][9]

References

edit
  1. ^ The Plant List
  2. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Fritillaria persica
  3. ^ Pacific Bulb Society, Fritillaria Two
  4. ^ Altervista Flora Italiana, Meleagride persiana, Fritillaria persica L.
  5. ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315.
  6. ^ "Botanica. The Illustrated AZ of over 10000 garden plants and how to cultivate them", p. 384. Könemann, 2004. ISBN 3-8331-1253-0
  7. ^ a b RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  8. ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Fritillaria persica 'Adiyaman'". Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  9. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 39. Retrieved 27 February 2018.