Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) • Earth.com

Alstroemeria angustifolia

(Alstroemeria angustifolia)

galery
en

Description

Alstroemeria angustifolia is a species of monocotyledonous plant in the genus Alstroemeria, family Alstroemeriaceae, described by Herb. This species includes the following subspecies: A. a. Angustifolia A. a. Velutina Alstroemeria angustifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Alstroemeriaceae. This species is Herb. first scientific description in 1837. Alstroemeria angustifolia is a phanerogamous, herbaceous, perennial, rhizomatous species belonging tothe Alstroemeriaceae family. It is native to central Chile. Etymology Alstroemeria generic name that was named in honor of the Swedish botanist Baron Clas Alströmer (Claus von Alstroemer) by his friend Carlos Linnaeus. angustifolia: Latin epithet meaning "with narrow leaves." Synonymy Alstroemeria puberula Phil. Plants of this genus grow from a cluster of tubers. They send up fertile and sterile stems, the fertile stems of some species reaching 1.5 meters in height. The leaves are alternately arranged and resupinate, twisted on the petioles so that the undersides face up. The leaves are variable in shape and the blades have smooth edges. The flowers are solitary or borne in umbels. The flower has six petals each up to 5 centimeters long. They come in many shades of red, orange, purple, green, and white, flecked and striped and streaked with darker colors. There are six curving stamens. The stigma has three lobes. The fruit is a capsule with three valves. Alstroemeria are classified as an inferior monocot, meaning the petals are located above the ovary and the leaf veins are parallel. Many hybrids and at least 190 cultivarshave been developed, featuring many different markings and colors, including white, yellow, orange, apricot, pink, red, purple, and lavender. The most popular and showy hybrids commonly grown today result from crosses between species from Chile (winter-growing) with species from Brazil (summer-growing). This strategy has overcome the florists' problem of seasonal dormancy and resulted in plants that are evergreen, or nearly so, and flower for most of the year. This breeding work derives mainly from trials that began in the United States in the 1980s, the main breeding is done nowadays by companies in the Netherlands. The flower, which resembles a miniature lily, is very popular for bouquets and flower arrangements in the commercial cut flower trade. These delicate flowers survive up to 14 days in water without any signs of shrivelling.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum:
Class: Liliopsida
Order:Liliales
Family:Alstroemeriaceae
Genus:Alstroemeria
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