Gymenokallis is a grassy evergreen perennial with beautiful graceful flowers. This bulbous plant is called angelic trumpets, a bride’s basket, a spider lily, a Peruvian daffodil or early treason.
Plant description
Hymenokallis stands out as a separate genus within the Amaryllis family. More than 60 species are divided into groups by habitat. The plant prefers the tropics and subtropics of both Americas, Africa and India. This amazing flower is found on hills along rivers or lakes, sometimes climbing up to a height of 2.5 km.
The root system is represented by an ovoid or spherical bulb with thin strings of roots. The diameter of an adult bulb is able to reach 10 cm. Its upper part is often elongated and has a solid isthmus. He covers the basal foliage collected in a socket. The leaves are xiphoid, dense, located in the same plane and reach a length of 50 to 100 cm. The hue of the leaves ranges from bright green to gray-green. Pasture of green shoots begins in April, and they wither by the end of August, although evergreen varieties are also found.
Flowers have a very unusual decorative shape. A core in the form of an open umbrella is located on a long tube; its very narrow and long petals frame it. There are six petals bent outward, the maximum length of which reaches 20 cm. The central corolla consists of six fused petals, smooth or serrated at the edges. The funnel with stamens adhered to it is 5 cm in diameter.
At the ends of the stamens are large oval anthers of orange or yellow colors. Flowers are collected in large umbrella or panicle inflorescences in an amount of 2 to 16 pieces. A thick fleshy flower stalk rises from the middle of the leaf rosette to a height of about 50 cm. Flowering ends with the formation of oval, pulp-covered seeds.
Varieties and vibrant representatives
Gimenokallis nice or lovely lives in the dry forests of the Caribbean subtropics. This evergreen variety reaches a height of 35-45 cm. The pear-shaped bulb in diameter is 7.5-10 cm. Within one season, the plant produces 7-8 leaves. Petiolate, oval or lanceolate foliage. The sheet size varies from 25 to 40 cm, with a width of 8-13 cm.
From gray-green peduncle 30-40 cm tall gradually grows from 7 to 12 flowers. Each of them is mounted on a short peduncle. The snow-white flower has the shape of an open umbrella with long petals. The central tube is 7–9 cm long, and thin petals reach 9–11 cm. The flowers have a rich lilac aroma.
Jimenokallis Caribbean lives in Jamaica and the Caribbean. This evergreen perennial does not have such a pronounced neck at the end of the bulb. The size of the lanceolate leaves is 30-60 cm in length and 5-7 cm in width. The tops of the leaves are rounded and have a pointed end. Leaf plates sit tightly on the base of the stem. A wide fleshy peduncle, up to 60 cm long, ends with a paniculate inflorescence of 8-10 buds. Blooms every year throughout the winter.
Hymenokallis broadleaf distributed in the sandy areas of Cuba and Jamaica. This is a grassy tall plant with elongated, somewhat oblong leaves. A concave central vein is visible on a leaf plate. The length of the leaves ranges from 45 to 70 cm. The stem can reach 60 cm or more. Flowers sit tightly in inflorescence on a long flower tube (8-12 cm). The crown of the flower has the shape of a narrow funnel up to 35 mm in diameter, its edges are solid and wavy. Long petals protrude from the umbrella at 9-14 cm.
Gimenokallis Coastal prefers the swampy forests of Peru, Brazil or Mexico. The base of the plant is hidden by leaves up to 75 cm long. In the center is a peduncle abundantly covered with large white flowers. The edges of the crown are smooth, fused, the length of narrow petals is 12 cm with a width of 5 mm.
As a houseplant, a variegated variety of this variety is often used. It is distinguished by a motley coloring of leaves, their edges have a yellowish or cream border.
Breeding methods
Hymenokallis can be propagated by seed or bulb division. Seeds germinate poorly. They are planted in humid sand-peat substrates. Germination takes from 3 weeks to 2 months. Young plants provide good lighting and regular watering, the soil should not dry out. In hot weather, seedlings protect from the midday sun so that the leaves do not get burned.
A more convenient way to propagate hymenocallis is to divide the bulbs. At the age of 3-4 years, children with their shoots begin to form near the main bulb. The plant is very carefully dug up and small bulbs are separated. They are immediately transplanted into the ground so as not to overdry.
Growing Features
Gimenokallis needs to provide a sunny place or slight shading. A soil mixture is prepared for lily from equal parts of peat, sand, turf and deciduous humus. Good drainage should be ensured. Young perennials are transplanted every 2 years, and adult plants - every 4 years. Transplantation is carried out during the dormant period, preferring small pots. Close capacity stimulates active flowering.
The plant needs regular watering, it immediately responds to drought with dried leaves. During the period of active growth, it is recommended to spray the leaves and stems of hymenocallis, but you can not moisten the buds. 3-4 times a month during flowering and vegetation, it needs a comprehensive mineral top dressing. During the dormant period, fertilizers are applied no more than once during a month. The plant does not tolerate organic fertilizers in the form of manure or deciduous humus.
After active flowering and wilting buds, the spider lily needs a period of rest. Some species drop foliage at this time. The pot is transferred to a dark place with an air temperature of + 10 ... + 12 ° C for a period of at least 3 months. Watering the soil should be very rare. After this time, the pot is exposed and I begin to water more often, within a month young shoots appear and the cycle repeats.
Plants that are grown in the garden can not withstand the frosts of a temperate climate, so in the fall, bulbs are dug up and stored in a cool place until spring.
Gimenokallis milky juice is poisonous, although in ancient times it was used as a medicine. Therefore, animals and children restrict access to lilies.
Diseases and parasites
Due to soil moisture, hymenocallis can suffer from an invasion of parasites (spider mites or aphids). From them, insecticides are treated.
Perhaps the disease is gray rot and a red burn. In this case, the affected parts of the bulb are cut off and sprinkled with ashes; treatment with foundationazole can be carried out. When brown spots appear on the leaves, anthracnosis infection is suspected. All affected vegetation is cut and burned.
Most of the problems of hymenocallis are caused by excessive moisture and insufficient air supply, so watering reduces, loosens the ground more often and increases the distance between plants in the garden.
Using
Gymenokallis is very beautiful as a single plant and in group plantings. It can be grown as a houseplant and, if possible, taken out to the garden for the summer, where it will receive the necessary sun rays and grow stronger.
In the flower garden, it looks good in the foreground, among stony clutches or in rock gardens. Can be used to decorate small ponds.
