THE PREGNANT ONION by Sue Haffner

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

THE PREGNANT ONION By Sue Haffner Photo from Pernell Gerver The “Pregnant Onion” is one of those taken-•‐for-•‐granted plants that you see in peoples’ collections, either potted or in the ground. I don’t recall having ever seen it in a nursery. It’s not an onion, although it looks sort of onion-•‐y . The base of the plant resembles an onion—a green bulb with an outer papery skin. As the bulb matures, it will generate little bulblets under its outer skin. These bulblets, which are about a quarter of an inch in diameter, grow and break through the papery outer layers of skin and eventually will drop off. If the soil onto which they fall is adequate, they will grow their own roots and eventually sprout leaves. These leaves will become strap shaped, emerging from the top of the bulb and spreading out from the center. When the plant reaches maturity, which takes a year or two, it will send out its flower stalk from the center of the leaf bundle. The stalk can become quite long, perhaps twice the length of the leaves, and will display whitish flowers with broad green keels formed in a dense raceme. This plant was known as Ornithogalum caudatum (or O. Longibractatum) for many years. Recently, however, the taxonomists have been working with the genus Albuca and have combined other genera within it. This plant is now officially Albuca bracteata. It is a South Africa native, found on shaded slopes and forest margins from the southeastern Cape to tropical East Africa. As far as culture is concerned, the “Pregnant Onion” is almost foolproof. It is winter-•‐hardy in our area, and only asks for protection from the direct summer sun. The constantly-•‐generated bulblets can be potted up in sandy soil, watered, fertilized and rarely fail. In fact, it’s an ideal plant for children to grow. .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Summary of Offerings in the PBS Bulb Exchange, Dec 2012- Nov 2019
Summary of offerings in the PBS Bulb Exchange, Dec 2012- Nov 2019 3841 Number of items in BX 301 thru BX 463 1815 Number of unique text strings used as taxa 990 Taxa offered as bulbs 1056 Taxa offered as seeds 308 Number of genera This does not include the SXs. Top 20 Most Oft Listed: BULBS Times listed SEEDS Times listed Oxalis obtusa 53 Zephyranthes primulina 20 Oxalis flava 36 Rhodophiala bifida 14 Oxalis hirta 25 Habranthus tubispathus 13 Oxalis bowiei 22 Moraea villosa 13 Ferraria crispa 20 Veltheimia bracteata 13 Oxalis sp. 20 Clivia miniata 12 Oxalis purpurea 18 Zephyranthes drummondii 12 Lachenalia mutabilis 17 Zephyranthes reginae 11 Moraea sp. 17 Amaryllis belladonna 10 Amaryllis belladonna 14 Calochortus venustus 10 Oxalis luteola 14 Zephyranthes fosteri 10 Albuca sp. 13 Calochortus luteus 9 Moraea villosa 13 Crinum bulbispermum 9 Oxalis caprina 13 Habranthus robustus 9 Oxalis imbricata 12 Haemanthus albiflos 9 Oxalis namaquana 12 Nerine bowdenii 9 Oxalis engleriana 11 Cyclamen graecum 8 Oxalis melanosticta 'Ken Aslet'11 Fritillaria affinis 8 Moraea ciliata 10 Habranthus brachyandrus 8 Oxalis commutata 10 Zephyranthes 'Pink Beauty' 8 Summary of offerings in the PBS Bulb Exchange, Dec 2012- Nov 2019 Most taxa specify to species level. 34 taxa were listed as Genus sp. for bulbs 23 taxa were listed as Genus sp. for seeds 141 taxa were listed with quoted 'Variety' Top 20 Most often listed Genera BULBS SEEDS Genus N items BXs Genus N items BXs Oxalis 450 64 Zephyranthes 202 35 Lachenalia 125 47 Calochortus 94 15 Moraea 99 31 Moraea
[Show full text]
DNA Barcoding Identification of Endangered Dipcadi Saxorum Blatt
Human Journals Research Article June 2019 Vol.:15, Issue:3 © All rights are reserved by Purohit Nikisha et al. DNA Barcoding Identification of Endangered Dipcadi saxorum Blatt. Species of Gujarat Keywords: DNA Barcoding, rbcL, endangered plants, identification, Phylogenetic tree, conservation ABSTRACT Purohit Nikisha*1, Solanki Hiteshkumar A2. DNA barcoding is an appropriate molecular method which uses a short sequence as a barcoding region precise for identified species. It has the capability to fast the discovery of new [1]. Research Scholar, Department of Botany, Gujarat species. In this study, the potential of DNA barcoding to University, Ahmedabad-380009. approve the identities of endangered plant species in Dediyapada, Gujarat was assessed using DNA barcode rbcL. [2]. Professor, Department of Botany, Gujarat rbcL marker was successful in amplifying target regions for University, Ahmedabad-380009. Dipcadi saxorum Blatt. species. RbcL primer resulted in cleanest reads. Correct identification of any plant is a complete requirement. DNA barcoding is a reliable tool in methodically Submission: 26 May 2019 identifying unknown endangered plants. The current study Accepted: 31 May 2019 explains how DNA barcode analysis of the plant Dipcadi Published: 30 June 2019 saxorum Blatt. helps in the correct identification based on nucleotide diversity of short DNA segments. DNA from the leaf of the plant were extracted. The chloroplast gene rbcL were amplified by PCR and sequenced. The sequence was subjected to a BLAST analysis to compare it with that of other species and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The results established that the plant belonged to the family Asparagaceae. Overall, the www.ijppr.humanjournals.com endangered species were precisely identified to the species level.
[Show full text]
Checklist of the Vascular Alien Flora of Catalonia (Northeastern Iberian Peninsula, Spain) Pere Aymerich1 & Llorenç Sáez2,3
BOTANICAL CHECKLISTS Mediterranean Botany ISSNe 2603-9109 https://dx.doi.org/10.5209/mbot.63608 Checklist of the vascular alien flora of Catalonia (northeastern Iberian Peninsula, Spain) Pere Aymerich1 & Llorenç Sáez2,3 Received: 7 March 2019 / Accepted: 28 June 2019 / Published online: 7 November 2019 Abstract. This is an inventory of the vascular alien flora of Catalonia (northeastern Iberian Peninsula, Spain) updated to 2018, representing 1068 alien taxa in total. 554 (52.0%) out of them are casual and 514 (48.0%) are established. 87 taxa (8.1% of the total number and 16.8 % of those established) show an invasive behaviour. The geographic zone with more alien plants is the most anthropogenic maritime area. However, the differences among regions decrease when the degree of naturalization of taxa increases and the number of invaders is very similar in all sectors. Only 26.2% of the taxa are more or less abundant, while the rest are rare or they have vanished. The alien flora is represented by 115 families, 87 out of them include naturalised species. The most diverse genera are Opuntia (20 taxa), Amaranthus (18 taxa) and Solanum (15 taxa). Most of the alien plants have been introduced since the beginning of the twentieth century (70.7%), with a strong increase since 1970 (50.3% of the total number). Almost two thirds of alien taxa have their origin in Euro-Mediterranean area and America, while 24.6% come from other geographical areas. The taxa originated in cultivation represent 9.5%, whereas spontaneous hybrids only 1.2%. From the temporal point of view, the rate of Euro-Mediterranean taxa shows a progressive reduction parallel to an increase of those of other origins, which have reached 73.2% of introductions during the last 50 years.
[Show full text]
The South African Species of Dipcadi
117 The South African Species of Dipcadi by A. A. Obermeyer In the Flora Capensis 6:445 (1897) Baker enumerated 14 species for South Africa. Since then over 50 more “ new ” species have been described for southern Africa, including a large number from South West Africa. As some are known to be poisonous and others are eaten by Bushmen and wild animals, it is essential to bring order into the classification of this genus. It has been necessary to reduce to synonymy a large number of names. Many of the unnecessary “ new ” species were based on variable characters and others resulted because some species flower hysteranthously in spring and later synanthously. It seems also that several hybrids were given specific rank. Baker divided the species into two sections; those with the perianth segments of equal length were classified in the §Tricharis and those with caudate appendages to the outer segments in the §Uropetalum. When the appendages are well developed sectional classification is easy but in some specimens the appendages are very short. Bentham & Hooker, Gen. PI. Ill, 2:809 (1883) pointed out that the length of the appendages varied even in flowers on one raceme and Baker, when describing the Madagascar species, D. heterocuspe, also mentions that short and long appendages occurred on one raceme. As the appendages are formed at an early stage in the bud. even the short ones may be seen to protrude as three short apical teeth. Apparently the species with appendages to the outer perianth-segments are restricted to Africa and Madagscar. Those from Europe and India do not have them.
[Show full text]
Insights from Microsporogenesis in Asparagales
EVOLUTION & DEVELOPMENT 9:5, 460–471 (2007) Constraints and selection: insights from microsporogenesis in Asparagales Laurent Penet,a,1,Ã Michel Laurin,b Pierre-Henri Gouyon,a,c and Sophie Nadota aLaboratoire Ecologie, Syste´matique et Evolution, Batiment 360, Universite´ Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay Ce´dex, France bUMR CNRS 7179, Universite´ Paris 6FPierre & Marie Curie, 2 place Jussieu, Case 7077, 75005 Paris, France cMuse´um National d’Histoire Naturelle, De´partement de Syste´matique et Evolution Botanique, 12 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris CP 39, France ÃAuthor for correspondence (email: [email protected]) 1Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4249 Fifth & Ruskin, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. SUMMARY Developmental constraints have been proposed different characteristics of microsporogenesis, only cell to interfere with natural selection in limiting the available wall formation appeared as constrained. We show that set of potential adaptations. Whereas this concept has constraints may also result from biases in the correlated long been debated on theoretical grounds, it has been occurrence of developmental steps (e.g., lack of successive investigated empirically only in a few studies. In this article, cytokinesis when wall formation is centripetal). We document we evaluate the importance of developmental constraints such biases and their potential outcomes, notably the during microsporogenesis (male meiosis in plants), with an establishment of intermediate stages, which allow emphasis on phylogenetic patterns in Asparagales. Different development to bypass such constraints. These insights are developmental constraints were tested by character discussed with regard to potential selection on pollen reshuffling or by simulated distributions. Among the morphology. INTRODUCTION 1991) also hindered tests using the concept (Pigliucci and Kaplan 2000).
[Show full text]
Albuca Spiralis
Flowering Plants of Africa A magazine containing colour plates with descriptions of flowering plants of Africa and neighbouring islands Edited by G. Germishuizen with assistance of E. du Plessis and G.S. Condy Volume 62 Pretoria 2011 Editorial Board A. Nicholas University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, RSA D.A. Snijman South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, RSA Referees and other co-workers on this volume H.J. Beentje, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK D. Bridson, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK P. Burgoyne, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA J.E. Burrows, Buffelskloof Nature Reserve & Herbarium, Lydenburg, RSA C.L. Craib, Bryanston, RSA G.D. Duncan, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, RSA E. Figueiredo, Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, RSA H.F. Glen, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Durban, RSA P. Goldblatt, Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, Missouri, USA G. Goodman-Cron, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, RSA D.J. Goyder, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK A. Grobler, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA R.R. Klopper, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA J. Lavranos, Loulé, Portugal S. Liede-Schumann, Department of Plant Systematics, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany J.C. Manning, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, RSA A. Nicholas, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, RSA R.B. Nordenstam, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden B.D. Schrire, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK P. Silveira, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal H. Steyn, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA P. Tilney, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, RSA E.J.
[Show full text]
Systematic Position of Two Endemic Species of Dipcadi (Asparagaceae) from Northern Western Ghats of India Using Molecular Markers
Rheedea Vol. 25(2) 97-102 2015 ISSN: 0971 - 2313 Systematic position of two endemic species of Dipcadi (Asparagaceae) from northern Western Ghats of India using molecular markers Anup S. Deshpande, S. Krishnan and M.K. Janarthanam* Department of Botany, Goa University, Goa 403 206, India E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Phylogenetic relationships of two endemic and critically endangered species viz. Dipcadi concanense (Dalzell) Baker and D. goaense Prabhug. et al., from northern Western Ghats, were investigated using sequences from a Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal region and a plastid gene (matK). Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian analysis were carried out for that purpose. The phylogenetic tree resulting from ML as well as Bayesian analysis showed that D. concanense and D. goaense are closely related species. This analysis was significantly supported by bootstrap as well as posterior probability values. The resolution of Dipcadi clade is also explained by cytological data as well as distribution patterns. Keywords: Dipcadi, endemic, ITS, matK, Phylogenetic analysis Introduction Genus Dipcadi Medik., belonging to the family D. goaense is morphologically similar to D. Asparagaceae (earlier Hyacinthaceae subfamily concanense (Prabhugaonkar et al., 2009) and share Ornithogaloideae), is distributed from Africa, the same chromosome number (Gosavi et al., 2011) Mediterranean region to South West Asia but both are allopatrically distributed. Considering (Mabberley, 1997) and comprises 41 species (The their morphological distinctness, distribution and Plant List, 2013). In India, it is distributed from conservation concern, their systematic position and Western Himalayas to Peninsular India and is phylogenetic relationship have been investigated represented by ten species with four varieties.
[Show full text]
Rock Garden Quarterly
ROCK GARDEN QUARTERLY VOLUME 55 NUMBER 2 SPRING 1997 COVER: Tulipa vvedevenskyi by Dick Van Reyper All Material Copyright © 1997 North American Rock Garden Society Printed by AgPress, 1531 Yuma Street, Manhattan, Kansas 66502 ROCK GARDEN QUARTERLY BULLETIN OF THE NORTH AMERICAN ROCK GARDEN SOCIETY VOLUME 55 NUMBER 2 SPRING 1997 FEATURES Life with Bulbs in an Oregon Garden, by Molly Grothaus 83 Nuts about Bulbs in a Minor Way, by Andrew Osyany 87 Some Spring Crocuses, by John Grimshaw 93 Arisaema bockii: An Attenuata Mystery, by Guy Gusman 101 Arisaemas in the 1990s: An Update on a Modern Fashion, by Jim McClements 105 Spider Lilies, Hardy Native Amaryllids, by Don Hackenberry 109 Specialty Bulbs in the Holland Industry, by Brent and Becky Heath 117 From California to a Holland Bulb Grower, by W.H. de Goede 120 Kniphofia Notes, by Panayoti Kelaidis 123 The Useful Bulb Frame, by Jane McGary 131 Trillium Tricks: How to Germinate a Recalcitrant Seed, by John F. Gyer 137 DEPARTMENTS Seed Exchange 146 Book Reviews 148 82 ROCK GARDEN QUARTERLY VOL. 55(2) LIFE WITH BULBS IN AN OREGON GARDEN by Molly Grothaus Our garden is on the slope of an and a recording thermometer, I began extinct volcano, with an unobstructed, to discover how large the variation in full frontal view of Mt. Hood. We see warmth and light can be in an acre the side of Mt. Hood facing Portland, and a half of garden. with its top-to-bottom 'H' of south tilt• These investigations led to an inter• ed ridges.
[Show full text]
Asparagaceae Subfam. Scilloideae) with Comments on Contrasting Taxonomic Treatments
Phytotaxa 397 (4): 291–299 ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition) https://www.mapress.com/j/pt/ PHYTOTAXA Copyright © 2019 Magnolia Press Article ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.397.4.3 New combinations in the tribe Urgineeae (Asparagaceae subfam. Scilloideae) with comments on contrasting taxonomic treatments MARIO MARTÍNEZ-AZORÍN1*, MANUEL B. CRESPO1, MARÍA Á. ALONSO-VARGAS1, ANTHONY P. DOLD2, NEIL R. CROUCH3,4, MARTIN PFOSSER5, LADISLAV MUCINA6,7, MICHAEL PINTER8 & WOLFGANG WETSCHNIG8 1Depto. de Ciencias Ambientales y Recursos Naturales (dCARN), Universidad de Alicante, P. O. Box 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain; e- mail: [email protected] 2Selmar Schonland Herbarium, Department of Botany, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa 3Biodiversity Research, Assessment & Monitoring, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 52099, Berea Road 4007, South Africa 4School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 4041 South Africa 5Biocenter Linz, J.-W.-Klein-Str. 73, A-4040 Linz, Austria 6Iluka Chair in Vegetation Science & Biogeography, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch WA 6150, Perth, Australia 7Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa 8Institute of Biology, Division Plant Science, NAWI Graz, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Holteigasse 6, A-8010 Graz, Austria *author for correspondence Abstract As part of a taxonomic revision of tribe Urgineeae, and informed by morphological and phylogenetic evidence obtained in the last decade, we present 17 new combinations in Austronea, Indurgia, Schizobasis, Tenicroa, Thuranthos, Urgineopsis, and Vera-duthiea. These are for taxa recently described in Drimia sensu latissimo or otherwise named during the past cen- tury.
[Show full text]
Stable Carbon Isotopic Assessment of Prehistoric Diets in the South-Western Cape, South Africa
STABLE CARBON ISOTOPIC ASSESSMENT OF PREHISTORIC DIETS IN THE SOUTH-WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA Thesis presented to the Department of Archaeology University of Cape Town in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science University of Cape Town by J.C. Sealy March 1984 The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgement of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes only. Published by the University of Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University of Cape Town ( i) ABSTRACT This thesis consists of a stable carbon isotopic assessment of the diets of the Holocene human inhabitants of the south western Cape, South Africa. Samples of the foods these people ate were collected from each of the four major physiographic zones in the area, and their 13 C/ 12C ratios measured. A total of more than 200 such analyses enabled the estimation of the average 613 C values of prehistoric human diets in each zone. This information is used to interpret o13 C measurements on a series of archaeological human skeletons. The results are consistent with a model of prehistoric subsistence behaviour in which people living at the coast made intensive use of marine food resources throughout the Holocene, consuming such a large proportion of these foods that they must have spent much, if not all of their time at the coast. Inland skeletons reflect an almost entirely terrestrial diet.
[Show full text]
October 2009
central coast cactus and succulent society newsletter Los Osos, 1719 14th Street c & Succulent Society Cactus Coast Central /O Nick Wilkinson c A 93402 On the Dry Side www.centralcoastcactus.org OctOber 2009 eventS September recap october Meeting The September meeting kicked off to a good start with President Mary Sunday, Oct. 18th, 2pm Peraca welcoming 9 guests. They each received a free plant for attending. (3rd Sunday for Oct. Only) Terry Skillin talked about our upcoming field trip to Lotus Land in Santa noveMber Meeting Barbara. Terry has done a lot of work preparing for this November 14th Sunday, Nov. 8th, 2pm trip, leaving SLO at 7:00am for a 10:00 tour. It’s a great deal for CCCSS members, (2nd Sunday) only $25.00, not to mention this is an incredible place that any plant enthusiast will enjoy. Contact her ASAP as the bus is filling up, her phone is 473-0788. lotus land Saturday, Nov. 14th Our member Gene Schroeder talked about plant of the month Parodia. Depart SLO at 7am This is an easy plant to grow, takes light frost and comes from South (Madonna Plaza Shopping America. Notocatus, which some of us may be more familiar with has now Center at Big Five) been changed to the genus Parodia. Gene did a great job sharing his vast $25 for Members knowledge with us. Thanks Gene! $60 for Non-Members The Raffle plants this month was some of the best I’ve seen! Not only were there many of them, there were some very nice caudiciform specimens, deceMber Meeting Holiday PotLuck along with some great “color” boxed cacti.
[Show full text]
Una Nueva Especie De Tanqua Karoo (Sudáfrica), Africa), with Notes on E
2311_Ethesia_Mnez.Azo.af_Anales 69(2).qxd 14/12/2012 12:38 Página 201 Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid 69(2): 201-208, julio-diciembre 2012. ISSN: 0211-1322. doi: 10.3989/ajbm. 2311 Ethesia tanquana (Ornithogaloideae, Hyacinthaceae), a new species from the Tanqua Karoo (South Africa), with notes on E. haalenbergensis Mario Martínez-Azorín* & Manuel B. Crespo CIBIO (Instituto de la Biodiversidad), Universidad de Alicante, Apartado 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain; [email protected] Abstract Resumen Martínez-Azorín, M. & Crespo, M.B. 2012. Ethesia tanquana (Ornithoga- Martínez-Azorín, M. & Crespo, M.B. 2012. Ethesia tanquana (Ornithoga- loideae, Hyacinthaceae), a new species from the Tanqua Karoo (South loideae, Hyacinthaceae), una nueva especie de Tanqua Karoo (Sudáfrica), Africa), with notes on E. haalenbergensis. Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 69(2): con notas sobre E. haalenbergensis. Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 69(2): 201- 201-208. 208 (en inglés). As a part of a taxonomic revision of Ethesia Raf., a new species, E. tanqua- En el marco de la revisión taxonómica de Ethesia Raf., se describe una nue- na Mart.-Azorín & M.B.Crespo, is described from the Tanqua Karoo in va especie, E. tanquana Mart.-Azorín & M.B.Crespo, del Tanqua Karoo en South Africa. This new species is at first sight similar to E. haalenbergensis Sudáfrica. Esta nueva especie se asemeja a primera vista a E. haalenber- (U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies) Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo & Juan and gensis (U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies) Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo & also E. xanthochlora (Baker) Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo & Juan, but it dif- Juan y E.
[Show full text]