Biology:Babiana stricta
| Babiana stricta | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Babiana |
| Species: | B. stricta
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| Binomial name | |
| Babiana stricta (Aiton) Ker Gawl.
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Babiana stricta, the baboon flower[1] or blue freesia,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae, native to Cape Province, South Africa and naturalized in Australia .[3]
Description
Growing 10–30 cm (4–12 in) tall by 5 cm (2 in) broad, it is a cormous perennial with hairy leaves 4–12 cm (2–5 in) long.[4] The leaves show linear venation. It is a bulb-like plant that produces upright fans of pleated, slightly hairy, and sword-shaped 6 inch leaves. The leaves emerge in mid-winter and are followed by short spikes with blue or purple cup-shaped flowers in the spring. The flowers usually bloom for 3 or 4 weeks, after that, the leaves and flowers die.[5]
The specific epithet stricta means "erect, upright".[6]
Cultivation
There are many hybrids and cultivars with different colored flowers, usually blue or pink with white additions. In mid- to late spring, each flowering stem produces six or more blooms, each to 5 cm (2 in) across. They are grouped in an inflorescence and often have a pleasant lemon scent. The seeds are black with a hard coat, collected in round seed capsules.[7]
Babiana stricta is tender (USDA Zones 8–10)[8] and in temperate zones is planted in containers and stored in winter at 5 °C (41 °F).[9]
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2]
References
- ↑ {{citation | mode = cs1 | title = Babiana stricta | work = Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) | url = | publisher = [[Organization:Agricultural Research ServAgricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | access-date = }}
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "RHS Plant Selector - Babiana stricta". https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/68713/Babiana-stricta/Details.
- ↑ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ↑ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. pp. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
- ↑ "Babiana stricta, Baboon Flower, Bulb/Tuber/Rhizome etc.,". https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?cat_id=3&plant_id=204&page=.
- ↑ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. pp. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
- ↑ Goldblatt, P. & Manning, J.C. (2007). A revision of the southern African genus Babiana, Iridaceae: Crocoideae. Strelitzia 18: 1-98. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
- ↑ "Hirt's Gardens". http://hirts-gardens.hostedbywebstore.com/Baboon-Flower-Bulbs-Babiana-Hybrids/dp/B0015KKMNE.
- ↑ Van Meuwen
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q4352484 entry
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