Hyacinthaceae Linnaeus 1753 - Bluebell Family![]() The Hyacinthaceae, formerly included in the Liliaceae, is a family of around 70 genera and 1000 species of perennial herbs growing from bulbs, usually with a membraneous tunic and several bulb scales. A few species have succulent leaves. Flowers are usually radially symmetrical with six petals arranged in two whorls of three each, which may be similar or differ. The flower stalk is leafless and the flowers are always arranged in racemes, which may be compact. Fruits are dry, dehiscent capsules, often tetrahedral or at least angular.
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Bowiea Harvey 1867
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Bowiea volubilis Harvey 1867 (Climbing Onion, Sea Onion, Zulu Potato) |
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Left: Bowiea volubilis is often grown as a curiousity and is extememly tolerant of cultural conditions. It is easy to grow a 10 in or larger bulb. Plant the bulb on the surface of well-drained soil. In the interests of sanity, plant the bulb by or under a climbing frame and encourage the growing shoot to wind around it, taking great care as it is quite brittle. Alternatively, grow in a hanging basket and allow the stem to hang down. Water weekly while in growth and fertilise with high nitrogen plant food to encourage the bulb to fatten up. Withdraw water when the annual growth starts to die back, usually in the Autumn. Cut off the dead stem when it has browned, wait a few weeks, then water occasionally until a new growth appears.
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Daubenya Lindley 1835
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Lachenalia corymbosa (Linnaeus) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt 2004 |
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Lachenalia paucifolia (W.F.Barker) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt 2004 |
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Lachenalia pustulata Jacquin 1791 |
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Lachenalia rosea Andrews 1803 |
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Lachenalia unicolor Jacquin 1797 |
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Lachenalia viridiflora WF Barker 1972 |
Ledebouria Roth 1821Ledebouria is a small genus of geophytic bulbs closely related to Scilla but with mottled leaves and an inflorescence arising from the leaf axils. The genus is distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar and India. |
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Ledebouria cooperii Jessop 1970 Syn. Scilla adlamii Baker 1891 (Zebra Squill) |
Ledebouria ovalifolia (Schrad.) Jessop 1970 |
Massonia Thunberg 1780 (Hedgehog Lily)
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Massonia bifolia - see below under Whiteheadia |
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Massonia depressa Maarten Houttuyn 1780 |
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Massonia echinata Linnaeus fils. 1781 |
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Massonia jasminiflora Burchell ex Baker 1870 |
Massonia marginata - see above under Daubenya |
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Massonia pustulata Jacquin 1791 |
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Massonia pygmaea von Schlechtendal ex Kunth 1843 |
Ornithogalum Linnaeus 1753Ornithogalum is a large genus of small bulbs, with at least 200 species from Southern Eurasia and Southern Africa. More than half of the species are native to South Africa. Leaves are narrow and the inflorescence is usually a cluster or spike of star-shaped, white or yellow to orange-red, silky flowers with 6 petals and petaloid sepals. The seeds are flattened, but without wings.
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Ornithogalum dubium Jacquin 1777 (Snake Flower) |
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Ornithogalum lanceolatum Labillardière 1812 (Star of Bethlehem) |
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Ornithogalum thyrsoides Jacquin 1776 (Star of Bethlehem, tjienkerientjee) |
Scilla Linnaeus 1753 (Squills)Scilla is a large genus of mostly small globose bulbs with deciduous foliage usually flowering in the Spring or early Summer. The flower is usually a raceme of several to many small flowers, often blue. The genus is widely distributed in the temperate Northern hemisphere and many species are hardy. |
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Scilla madeirensis Menezes 1926 (Madeira Squill) |
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Scilla peruviana Linnaeus 1753 (Cuban Lily, Portuguese Squill)
Syn: Oncostema peruviana |
Urginea Steinheil 1834Bulbs from Africa and the Mediterranean, usually with white to yellow or pale pink flowers. This genus has been merged into Drimia by some authors. |
Urginea maritima Baker 1873 Syn. Drimia maritima Stearn. 1978 (Sea Onion) |
Veltheimia Gleditsch 1771 (Sand Lilies)
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Veltheimia bracteata Harvey ex Baker 1870 Syn. V. viridifolia Jacquin 1797 |
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Veltheimia capensis De Candolle 1807 |