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Crocosmia J. E. Planchon 1851, is a small genus of perennial species in the iris family Iridaceae, native to grasslands in the Cape region (South Africa).
They are now grown worldwide, and more than 400 cultivars have been produced. Some hybrids have become invasive species.
The name is derived from the Greek words krokos (saffron) and osme (smell), referring to the saffron-like scent, when dried flowers are dipped in water.
They are evergreen or deciduous perennial herbs. The basal, alternate leaves are cauline ( = belonging to the stem) and distichous ( = growing in two vertical ranks). The leaves are linear or lanceolate. The blades are parallel-veined. The margin is entire.
They offer wonderful inflorescences of 4 to 20 vivid red and orange subopposite flowers on a divaricately branched stem. The terminal inflorescence can have the form of a cyme or a raceme. These flower from early summer well into fall. The flowers are sessile on a flexuose arched spike. The fertile flowers are hermaphroditic. All stamens have an equal length. The style branches are apically forked. They are pollinated by insects, birds (hummingbirds) or by the wind. The dehiscent capsules are shorter than wide.
Crocosmia are semi-hardy and can endure winter temperatures. These bulbous plants can be propagated through division, removing offsets from the corm in spring.
They are commonly known as coppertips or falling stars. Other names, for hybrids and cultivars, include montbretia, antholyza, and curtonus.
Species
- Crocosmia ambongensis
- Crocosmia aurea
- Crocosmia cinnabarina
- Crocosmia fucata (Namaqualand, Cape region)
- Crocosmia maculata
- Crocosmia masoniorum
- Crocosmia mathewsiana
- Crocosmia paniculata
- Crocosmia pauciflora
- Crocosmia pearsei
- Crocosmia pottsii
Natural hybrids
- Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora : montbretia
- Crocosmia x crocosmoides
- Crocosmia x latifolia
Reference
Peter Goldblatt, John Manning, Gary Dunlop, Auriol Batten - Crocosmia and Chasmanthe (Royal Horticultural Society Plant Collector Guide)
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