Nerine bowdenii
Encyclopedia
Nerine bowdenii is a species
of perennial plant. The common names of the species are Cape Flower, Guernsey Lily, and Japanese Spider Lily. The species was named in 1904 after Athelstan Hall Cornish-Bowden (1871–1942), who had sent bulbs of the plant to England from South Africa.
. The blossoms are pink and resemble finely cut lilies. The species grow best in heat and well-drained soil
. The plant has anywhere from eight or more flowers that have a faint scent. The tips of the flowers are frilly and the leaves are strap-shaped. The leaves do not appear until spring. Because of this, the species can tolerate lower temperatures than most species in the genus. Bloom
ing occurs in late summer and is able to tolerate drought
. The stem
is 46 centimetres (18.1 in) tall. The plants need to be planted where they cannot be disturbed for several years except for watering and bloom best when they are crowded. While the species is grown best in heat, it will not tolerate tropical
or very humid weather. Plants of this species should not be moved after they are planted. They should be planted in the spring. The species is able to survive the winter. For many years, it was thought that the species is originally from Japan
, but it is originally from South Africa
, especially in the Drakensberg Mountains. Alun Rees, of The Daily Telegraph
, said that the bulbs are shaped like old-fashioned Chianti
bottles, and that colchicum
s and cyclamens are good choices of companion plants to grow with this species.
, called ungeremine which may be suitable as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease
. Ungeremine has also been isolated from Ungernia minor, Ungernia spiralis, Zephyranthes flava, Crinum asiaticum
, Crinum augustum, Pancratium maritimum
and Hippeastrum solandriflorum. The bulbs also contain a number of alkaloid
s.
, vallota mosaic virus has been found to infect Nerine bowdenii and other members of the Nerine genus in the UK.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of perennial plant. The common names of the species are Cape Flower, Guernsey Lily, and Japanese Spider Lily. The species was named in 1904 after Athelstan Hall Cornish-Bowden (1871–1942), who had sent bulbs of the plant to England from South Africa.
Description
The plants are 36 to 51 cm (14.2 to 20.1 ) tall and the bulbs are 12 centimetre in circumferenceCircumference
The circumference is the distance around a closed curve. Circumference is a special perimeter.-Circumference of a circle:The circumference of a circle is the length around it....
. The blossoms are pink and resemble finely cut lilies. The species grow best in heat and well-drained soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
. The plant has anywhere from eight or more flowers that have a faint scent. The tips of the flowers are frilly and the leaves are strap-shaped. The leaves do not appear until spring. Because of this, the species can tolerate lower temperatures than most species in the genus. Bloom
Bloom
Bloom or blooming may refer to:-Science and nature:* Bloom, one or more flowers on a flowering plant* Algal bloom, a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in an aquatic system...
ing occurs in late summer and is able to tolerate drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
. The stem
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
is 46 centimetres (18.1 in) tall. The plants need to be planted where they cannot be disturbed for several years except for watering and bloom best when they are crowded. While the species is grown best in heat, it will not tolerate tropical
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
or very humid weather. Plants of this species should not be moved after they are planted. They should be planted in the spring. The species is able to survive the winter. For many years, it was thought that the species is originally from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, but it is originally from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, especially in the Drakensberg Mountains. Alun Rees, of The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, said that the bulbs are shaped like old-fashioned Chianti
Chianti
Chianti is a red Italian wine produced in Tuscany. It was historically associated with a squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called a fiasco ; however, the fiasco is only used by a few makers of the wine now; most Chianti is now bottled in more standard shaped wine bottles...
bottles, and that colchicum
Colchicum
Colchicum is a genus of flowering plants containing around sixty species of perennial plants which grow from corms. It is a member of family Colchicaceae, and is native to West Asia, Europe and parts of the Mediterranean coast....
s and cyclamens are good choices of companion plants to grow with this species.
Biochemistry
The bulbs of Nerine bowdenii contain an inhibitor of acetylcholinesteraseAcetylcholinesterase inhibitor
An acetylcholinesterase inhibitor or anti-cholinesterase is a chemical that inhibits the cholinesterase enzyme from breaking down acetylcholine, increasing both the level and duration of action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.- Uses :Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors:* Occur naturally as...
, called ungeremine which may be suitable as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
. Ungeremine has also been isolated from Ungernia minor, Ungernia spiralis, Zephyranthes flava, Crinum asiaticum
Crinum asiaticum
Common names:Poison Bulb, Giant Crinum Lily, Grand Crinum Lily, Grand Crinum Lily, Spider LilyCrinum asiaticum can be found in China, Hong Kong, Jeju-do in South Korea, India, Ryukyu Islands, Mainland Japan and in Sri Lanka. Crinum pedunculatum is considered by some sources to be a variety of this...
, Crinum augustum, Pancratium maritimum
Pancratium maritimum
Pancratium maritimum, or sea daffodil, is a species of bulbous plant native to the Mediterranean region and south-western Europe. That plant can also be seen on the south Bulgarian and north Turkish coasts of Black Sea, where it is threatened with extinction. It grows on coastal sands or just above...
and Hippeastrum solandriflorum. The bulbs also contain a number of alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
s.
Diseases
The plant virusPlant virus
Plant viruses are viruses that affect plants. Like all other viruses, plant viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that do not have the molecular machinery to replicate without a host. Plant viruses are pathogenic to higher plants...
, vallota mosaic virus has been found to infect Nerine bowdenii and other members of the Nerine genus in the UK.