Agapanthus africanus

Agapanthus africanus (African lily) is a flowering plant from the genus Agapanthus native to the area of Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.[2] A. africanus is more difficult to grow in gardens than A. praecox, and almost all plants sold as A. africanus are actually A. praecox.[3]

African lily
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Agapanthoideae
Genus: Agapanthus
Species:
A. africanus
Binomial name
Agapanthus africanus
Synonyms[1]
  • Abumon africanum (L.) Britton
  • Agapanthus minor Lodd.
  • Agapanthus tuberosus L. ex DC. nom. inval.
  • Agapanthus umbellatus L'Hér.
  • Crinum africanum L.
  • Crinum floridum Salisb. nom. illeg.
  • Mauhlia africana (L.) Dahl
  • Mauhlia linearis Thunb.
  • Mauhlia umbellata (L'Hér.) Thunb. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
  • Tulbaghia africana (L.) Kuntze
  • Tulbaghia heisteri Fabr.
  • Tulbaghia minor (Lodd.) Kuntze

It has a short stem bearing a tuft of long, narrow, arching leaves 10–35 cm long and 1–2 cm broad, and a central flower stalk 25–60 cm tall, ending in an umbel of 20-30 white, or bright blue, funnel-shaped flowers, each flower 2.5–5 cm diameter.[4][5]

Cultivation

It was introduced to Europe at the close of the 17th century.[3] Unlike the more common A. praecox, it is not generally suitable as a garden plant, and will not tolerate extended freezing temperatures.[3]

See also

References
  1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  2. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. PlantZAfrica: Agapanthus africanus
  4. Hoffmannsegg, Johann Centurius von. 1824. Verzeichniss der Pflanzenkulturen 35. Agapanthus africanus
  5. Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 1: 292, as Crinum africanum
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