Eucomis bicolor

Eucomis bicolor, the variegated pineapple lily or just pineapple lily,[2] is a bulbous species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to Southern Africa (the Cape Provinces, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, and the Northern Provinces).[1] The pale green, purple-margined flowers are arranged in a spike (raceme), topped by a "head" of green leaflike bracts. It is cultivated as an ornamental bulbous plant, although its flowers have an unpleasant smell, attractive to the main pollinators, flies.

Eucomis bicolor
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Scilloideae
Genus: Eucomis
Species:
E. bicolor
Binomial name
Eucomis bicolor

Description
In the Royal Natal National Park

Eucomis bicolor is a perennial growing from a large bulb. It reaches 30–60 cm (12–24 in) in height, with a basal rosette of wavy leaves 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long. In late summer (August in the UK), it produces a stout stem (peduncule), often with purple markings. The inflorescence is a raceme of pale green, purple margined flowers with tepals up to 15 mm (1⁄2 in) long, borne on pedicels 2 cm (3⁄4 in) long. The inflorescence is terminated by a head (coma) of pale green leafy bracts, sometimes tinged with purple. At close quarters the flowers have a strongly unpleasant smell. The ovary is green.[3][4][5]

The homoisoflavanones eucomin, eucomol,[6] (E)-7-O-methyl-eucomin, (—)-7-O-methyleucomol, (+)-3,9-dihydro-eucomin and 7-O-methyl-3,9-dihydro-eucomin[7] can be isolated from bulbs of E. bicolor.

Taxonomy

Eucomis bicolor was first described by John Gilbert Baker in 1878.[1] The specific epithet bicolor means "two-coloured";[8] the tepals are pale green with purple margins.[3] It is one of a group of larger tetraploid species of Eucomis, with 2n = 4x = 60.[9]

Distribution and habitat

Eucomis bicolor is native to Southern Africa (the Cape Provinces, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, and the Northern Provinces).[1] Along the Drakensberg escarpment it is found in damp grassland, often near streams, up to elevations of 2,500 m (8,200 ft).[3]

Ecology
Fly on flowers

Eucomis bicolor is primarily pollinated by flies, including blowflies, house flies and flesh flies, attracted by the sulphur compounds in the scent of the flowers.[10]

Cultivation

In cultivation, Eucomis bicolor is not fully frost-hardy. In the US, it is classed as hardy in USDA zones 8-10, and requires a winter mulch in colder areas (zones 6–7).[2] In the UK, it is said to be hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F), if kept dry in winter. Sun exposure and plentiful water are required in summer for successful flowering.[3] It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[11]

The cultivar E. bicolor 'Alba' has plain white flowers and lacks any purple coloration. It resembles Eucomis autumnalis but can be distinguished by the long flower stalks (pedicels).[3]

References
  1. "Eucomis bicolor". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  2. "Pineapple lily – Eucomis bicolor". Fine Gardening. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  3. Compton, James (1990). "Eucomis L'Heritier". The Plantsman. 12 (3): 129–139.
  4. "August 2011 Plant Profile: Eucomis bicolor". University of Washington Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  5. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  6. Heller, W. & Tamm, Ch. (1981). "Homoisoflavanones and Biogenetically Related Compounds". Fortschritte der Chemie organischer Naturstoffe / Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products, Volume 40. pp. 105–152. doi:10.1007/978-3-7091-8611-4_3.
  7. Heller, W.; Andermatt, P.; Schaad, W.A. & Tamm, C. (1976). "Homoisoflavonones. IV. New constituents of the eucomin series of Eucomis bicolor". Helvetica Chimica Acta. 59 (6): 2048–2058. doi:10.1002/hlca.19760590618. PMID 1017955.
  8. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  9. Zonneveld, B.J.M. & Duncan, G.D. (2010). "Genome sizes of Eucomis L'Hér. (Hyacinthaceae) and a description of the new species Eucomis grimshawii G.D.Duncan & Zonneveld". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 284 (1–2): 99–109. doi:10.1007/s00606-009-0236-y.
  10. "Eucomis bicolor Baker". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  11. "Eucomis bicolor AGM". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  • Dibakwane, Dineo (July 2015). "Eucomis bicolor". PlantZAfrica.com. SANBI. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
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