Lachenalia aloides (opal flower) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae,[1] native to the Western Cape of South Africa. It is a bulbous perennial growing to 15–28 cm (6–11 in) tall by 5 cm (2 in) broad, with strap-shaped spotted leaves and fleshy stems bearing pendent tubular yellow flowers, red at the tips, in winter and spring.[2] The Latin aloides literally means "aloe-like";[3] though L. aloides, despite its similarity, does not belong to the same family of plants as aloes.
| Lachenalia aloides | |
|---|---|
| |
| L. aloides var. aloides (Curtis's Botanical Magazine) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Scilloideae |
| Genus: | Lachenalia |
| Species: | L. aloides
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lachenalia aloides | |
Numerous cultivars have been bred for garden use. They require a sheltered, frost-free position or under glass. The following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:
References edit
- ^ a b "Lachenalia aloides", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2012-12-21
- ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
- ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Lachenalia aloides var. aurea". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolor". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 20 May 2013.