Eucrosia mirabilis
Encyclopedia
Eucrosia mirabilis is a species of plant
, found in Peru
, from where it was originally scientifically described in 1869, and Ecuador
, where it was rediscovered in 1997. Its natural habitat
s are seasonally dry lowland areas.
It grows from bulb
s around 7 cm in diameter. One to three blue-green stalked (petiolate
) leaves appear after flowering, with blades (laminae) 40 cm long by 20 cm wide. About 30 zygomorphic flowers, which are yellow-green, are produced in an umbel
on a 60–90 cm tall stem (scape); the stamen
s have prominent long white filaments. In its natural habitat, flowering is August to October. The flowers are thought to be adapted for butterfly pollination, but a single report of hummingbird visitation is recorded for this species.
In cultivation, plants should be kept warm and dry when the leaves wither, and watered only when the flowers or leaves begin to grow again, when a sunny position is required.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
, found in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, from where it was originally scientifically described in 1869, and Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, where it was rediscovered in 1997. Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s are seasonally dry lowland areas.
It grows from bulb
Bulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
s around 7 cm in diameter. One to three blue-green stalked (petiolate
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
) leaves appear after flowering, with blades (laminae) 40 cm long by 20 cm wide. About 30 zygomorphic flowers, which are yellow-green, are produced in an umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
on a 60–90 cm tall stem (scape); the stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s have prominent long white filaments. In its natural habitat, flowering is August to October. The flowers are thought to be adapted for butterfly pollination, but a single report of hummingbird visitation is recorded for this species.
In cultivation, plants should be kept warm and dry when the leaves wither, and watered only when the flowers or leaves begin to grow again, when a sunny position is required.