Crinum

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Automatic taxobox

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

Vegetative characteristics

Crinum are bulbous perennial herbs<ref name = "VicFlora" /><ref name = "Flora of China">Crinum in Flora of China @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2025, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=108369</ref> with tunicate bulbs<ref name = "Flora of Australia">H.J. Hewson. Crinum, in (ed.), Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Crinum [Date Accessed: 27 January 2025]</ref> and basal, glabrous,<ref name = "Florabase">Western Australian Herbarium & Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. (n.d.-a). Crinum L. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/21237</ref> annual to perennial leaves.<ref name = "VicFlora">Crinum. (n.d.). VicFlora Flora of Victoria. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/032b13e8-28e9-47de-b460-2efd1317b354</ref> These bulbs can be very large. A species which Chitendon and Synge list as Crinum crassipes (a synonym of Crinum variabile<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>) can have a bulb Template:Cvt high and Template:Cvt thick.,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> exceeded only by Worsleya procera.

Generative characteristics

The bisexual,<ref name = "Flora of Australia" /><ref name = "VicFlora" /> sessile or pedicellate,<ref name = "Flora of Australia" /><ref name = "Flora of China" /> zygomorphic or actinomorphic flowers<ref name = "Flora of China" /> are borne one umbellate or solitary inflorescences<ref name = "VicFlora" /><ref name = "Flora of China" /> with solid scapes.<ref name = "Flora of China" />

Cytology

Cytological studies have shown that 27 species of Crinum are diploid, having a typical chromosome count of 2n = 22. Abilio Fernandes found that the Orange River Crinum bulbispermum had a count of 2n = 66, and some desert Crinum macowanii 2n = 44. These polyploid species produce seeds that are often parthenogenetic triploid or diploids, lack vigour and seldom grow to mature plants.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Taxonomy

It was published by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.<ref name = "Linné, 1753">Linné, Carl von, & Salvius, Lars. (1753). Caroli Linnaei ... Species plantarum :exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas... (Vol. 1, p. 291). Impensis Laurentii Salvii. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358310</ref><ref name = "Tropicos" /> The lectotype Crinum americanum Template:Small was designated in 1923.<ref name = "Tropicos" />

Species

Template:Main

Template:As of, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families lists 105 species of Crinum.<ref name="WCSP_Crinum">Template:Citation</ref> Amongst these are:

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

Formerly placed here

Agapanthus africanus (L.) Hoffmanns. (as C. africanum L.)
Ammocharis heterostyla (Bullock) Milne-Redh. & Schweick. (as C. heterostylum Bullock)
Cyrtanthus angustifolius (L.f.) Aiton (as C. angustifolius L.f.)
Cyrtanthus elatus (Jacq.) Traub (as C. speciosum L.f.)
Cyrtanthus obliquus (L.f.) Aiton (as C. obliquum L.f.)
Hippeastrum argentinum (Pax) Hunz. (as C. argentinum Pax)
Urceolina urceolata (Ruiz & Pav.) Asch. & Graebn. (as C. urceolatum Ruiz & Pav.)<ref name="GRINSpecies">Template:Cite web</ref>

Hybrids

× Amarcrinum hybridised with Amaryllis
C. × powellii<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (garden hybrid between C. bulbispermum and C. moorei) - pale pink, fragrant, lily-like flowers produced in late summer
- C. × powellii 'Album'<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (white flowered cultivar)

Etymology

The generic name Crinum comes from the Ancient Greek κρίνον (krinon), meaning lily, via the Latin crinum.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Uses

Several species are used in aquariums and in aquascaping. These include Crinum calamistratum, Crinum malabaricum, Crinum natans, and Crinum thaianum.<ref name=kasselman2020>Template:Cite book</ref>

Gallery

Crinum moorei
Crinum moorei at Strybing Arboretum, San Francisco
Crinum ornatum, SW Burkina Faso
Crinum species in Hyderabad, India
Queen Emma lily (Crinum augustum or Crinum amabile var. augustum) in Hawaiʻi
Crinum 'Ellen Bosanquet'