keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

BELAMCANDA Adans.
LEOPARD-LILY, BLACKBERRY-LILY, LEOPARD-FLOWER
BELAMCANDA/IRIDACEAE 685
AA genus of 1 or 2 species of Asia including Japan (Goldblatt 2002b); widely cultivated and
naturalized; also used medicinally. Recent molecular studies (Tillie et al. 2001; Carol Wilson,
pers. comm.) place the genus within Iris. As such, from a cladistic standpoint, Iris is thus
paraphyletic and inappropriate for formal recognition without the inclusion of Belamcanda.
(Latinized version of the East Asiatic vernacular name)
REFERENCE: Tillie et al. 2001; Goldblatt 2002b.
Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC., (of China), BLACKBERRY-LILY, LEOPARD-LILY, LEOPARD-FLOWER. Perennial
from orangish yellow rhizomes; stems 30–130 cm tall, erect or ascending; leaves basal
and cauline, folded lengthwise in the basal 1/3–1/2 and in the distal portion expanded parallel
to the stem axis (unifacial) and laterally compressed (appearing � flat), 15–32 mm wide; inflorescence
a panicle with cymose flower clusters; flowers open for only 1 day; perianth 20–32(–35)
mm long, orangish red to orange, with darker red to brownish purple spots; tepals similar,
spreading, 7–9 mm wide, fused at very base; capsule 18–30 mm long, opening to expose the
cluster of globose, shiny, black seeds (seeds usually brown in Iridaceae—Mabberley 1997). Ornamental
escaped in pastures, roadsides, thickets, and at edge of wooded areas; Titus Co. (BRIT) in
the Post Oak Savannah, also cited for the Pineywoods by Hatch et al. (1990); e U.S. from VT s to
FL w to SD and TX. Apr–Jul. Native of w Asia. [Gemmingia chinensis (L.) Kuntze] The common
names are derived from the blackberry-like appearance of the cluster of seeds after the capsule
opens (Yatskievych 1999) and from the spotted orange flowers. I m/277
CROCOSMIA Planch. MONTBRETIA
AA genus of 9 species endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar (Goldblatt 2002f); related
to Tritonia, another African genus. A number are grown as ornamentals. The common
name commemorates A.F.C. de Montbret, the botanist on an 18th century French expedition to
Egypt (Shosteck 1974). (Greek: krokos, saffron, and osme, smell; in reference to the dried flowers,
which when boiled in water give the odor of saffron)
REFERENCES: de Vos 1984; Goldblatt 2002f; Goldblatt et al. 2004.
Crocosmia �crocosmiiflora (Lemoine) N.E. Br. [C. aurea (Hook.) Planch. � C. pottsii (Baker) N.E. Br.],
(with flowers like Crocosmia—the plant was originally described in another genus), MONTBRETIA.
Perennial from corm 15–25 mm in diam.; stems to 90–120 cm tall, slightly longer than leaves;
leaves linear, acuminate, 7–20(–25) mm wide; leaf bases sheathing the flowering stem; inflorescence
a panicle of spikes; flowers odorless; perianth orange or orange-red, ca. 38–50 mm across,
with segments united into a tube 10–15 mm long, the lobes spreading, subequal, usually longer
than the tube; stamens exserted, the filaments 15–22 mm long, the anthers 6–8 mm long; fruit a
globose, 3-valved capsule. Escaped cultivated ornamental, thickets; Hardin Co. (Amerson &
Watson, s.n., BRIT; Cory 56667, BRIT; Correll 1972a) in the Pineywoods; sw Canada (B.C.) and
scattered in the U.S.—CA, FL, MS, NC, OR, SC, WA, and TX. Summer. The parental species are
native to Africa; this hybrid was developed in 1880 in France by the horticulturist Lemoine (de
Vos 1984; Mabberley 1997). [Montbretia �crocosmiiflora Lemoine, Tritonia �crocosmiiflora
(Lemoine) Nichols.] It is reported to be attractive to hummingbirds (Kartesz 1999). I
GLADIOLUS L. SWORD-LILY, CORN-FLAG
Glabrous perennials from corms; stems usually unbranched; leaves sword-shaped, compressed
laterally (appearing � flat), reaching nearly to base of spike; inflorescence a spike with 6–20
flowers; outer bract of spathe longer than inner; flowers showy, ours unscented; perianth segments
(tepals) 6, connate basally into a somewhat curved tube, in ours pink to light purple to
reddish purple, unequal; capsules oblong to globose.