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CRinum bulbispermum
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| Crinum L. |
CRINUM americanum
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American crinum lily, Crinum lilySwamp lily, Southern swamp lily, String lily, Seven sister |
Blooming in my woodland backyard is the American crinum. It is known by several names including crinum lily, swamp lily, southern swamp lily, string lily, and seven sisters. It has white flowers and a honeysuckle scent, perfect for a moonlight garden.
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Crinum americanum grows well in the wetlands in the southeastern United States. It spreads by large rhizomes. |
Imagine early explorer's delight finding this cluster of unusual strappy leaves growing in boggy and swampy areas, the mystery in wondering what type of flowers they produced, if any, and then finding the beautiful, enthusiastic white clusters coming forth with what seems like hardly any effort.
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AMERICAN CRINUM LILY
Moninckx atlas, vol. 6: t. 29 (1682-1709)
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| CRINUM AMERICANUM Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, t. 1014-1059, vol. 26 (1807), Sydenham Teast Edwards (1768 – 1819) Source: Plant Illustrations |
What on earth are Crinum bulbils you say – well they are the strange lumpy things that form on the flower heads after the flowers are finished. They are actually a type of tuber, not a seed capsule, so don’t try to open them to see what is inside. They are a very cunning method of propagation which is relatively common amongst the Crinum genus, as well as some other types of bulbs. They aren’t actually members of the Lily family, by the way, they come from the family of Amaryllis. Most crinums grow in very swampy ground, along streams and lakes, and this method of propagation is more reliable than seed, which may get washed away or drowned.
These bulbils form, as I said, at the base of the individual flower in the cluster, and there can be several on the same flower head. When the flowering is finished, the weight of the bulbils forces the stem to fall to the ground, although it is still attached to the plant, which prevents the bulbils from being washed away into deeper water or other unsatisfactory locations. By the way, this is why you find thickets of these plants growing together, in their natural environment, which can be a beautiful sight when they are in flower.
Symbolism
Lily: Majesty, innocence, purity, and resurrection. Often associated with the Virgin Mary and resurrection. Often used on women’s graves. The use of lilies at funerals symbolizes the restored innocence of the soul at death.“The lily’s height and beauty speak command. The Jews imitated its form in the decorations of their first magnificent temple; and Christ described it as more splendid than King Solomon in his most gorgeous apparel. According to ancient mythology, there was originally but one species of Lily, and that was orange coloured; and the white was produced by the following circumstance:—Jupiter, wishing to render Hercules immortal, prevailed on Juno to take a deep draught of nectar, which threw the queen into a profound sleep. Jupiter then placed the infant Hercules at her breast, so that the divine milk might ensure immortality. Hercules drew the milk faster than he could swallow it, and some drops fell to the earth, from which immediately sprang the White Lily.”
Amaryllidaceae Family Resources
Pacific Bulb Society
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