Tricyrtis is a genus of Asian flowering plants in the lily family, with approximately 20 known species. The species are commonly known in English as toad lilies. The genus has a native range from the Himalayas to eastern Asia, including China,[3] Japan,[4] Philippines and Taiwan,[5] and a few species are cultivated for their ornamental qualities in other parts of the world.

Tricyrtis
Tricyrtis hirta
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Subfamily: Calochortoideae
Genus: Tricyrtis
Wall.[1]
Type species
Tricyrtis maculata
(D.Don) J.F.Macbr.
Synonyms[2]
  • Compsoa D.Don
  • Compsanthus Spreng.
  • Brachycyrtis Koidz.

Description

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Tricyrtis are herbaceous perennials with creeping rhizomes. The stems are typically erect or maybe ascending, and sometimes branched from the middle to the top. The subsessile leaves are arranged alternately along the stems. The inflorescences are most commonly thyrse or thyrsoid, or rarely the flowers are arranged into a raceme. The showy, solitary flowers are bisexual. Perianth campanulate or trumpet-shaped with six free tepals arranged into two whorls: the outer whorl has nectar secreting pouches, while the inner whorl has upright tepals with dorsal crests.[6] The tepals are white or yellow with purplish spots, usually recurved or reflexed. The six stamens are inserted at base of the tepals, and the filaments are slightly flattened, forming a short tube. The anthers are dorsifixed. The three-loculed ovary have many ovules per locule. The styles are arranged into a column. The three-angled fruits are broadly cylindrical capsules and when ripe release many small, flat, ovate to orbicular shaped seeds.[3]

Taxonomy

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The genus is subdivided into four sections,[citation needed] with about 20 species. Accepted species include:[2]

Sections[citation needed] Image Scientific name Distribution
Brachycyrtis   Tricyrtis ishiiana (Kitag. & T.Koyama) Ohwi & Okuyama Honshu Island in Japan
  Tricyrtis macrantha Maxim. Shikoku Island in Japan
  Tricyrtis macranthopsis Masam. Kii Peninsula in Japan
Flavae Tricyrtis flava Maxim Kyushu Island in Japan
  Tricyrtis nana Yatabe Japan
Tricyrtis ohsumiensis Masam.[7] Kyushu Island in Japan
Tricyrtis perfoliata Masam.[7] Kyushu Island in Japan
Hirtae   Tricyrtis formosana Baker Taiwan, Nansei-shoto (Ryukyu Islands)
  Tricyrtis hirta (Thunb.) Hook. Japan
Tricyrtis lasiocarpa Matsum. Taiwan
Tricyrtis   Tricyrtis affinis Makino Japan
Tricyrtis chinensis Hiroshi Takahashi China
Tricyrtis dilatata Nakai South Korea
Tricyrtis imeldae Guthnick Mindanao Island in Philippines
  Tricyrtis latifolia Maxim. Japan
  Tricyrtis macropoda Miq. Japan
Tricyrtis maculata (D.Don) J.F.Macbr. Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam, Myanmar, China
Tricyrtis puberula Nakai & Kitag. China
Tricyrtis setouchiensis Hir.Takah. Honshu + Shikoku Islands in Japan
  Tricyrtis suzukii Masam. Taiwan

Cultivation

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Tricyrtis species are perennial herbaceous plants that grow at the edge of forests. They prefer shade or part shade and rich, moist soil. Toad lilies bloom in summer to fall. They are hardy enough to handle sudden changes of winter from mild to blustery cold.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wallich 1824–1826, p. 61.
  2. ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ^ a b "Tricyrtis Wallich". Flora of China.
  4. ^ Maki, Masayuki; Morita, Hiroko; Oiki, Syuji; Takahashi, Hiroshi (1999). "The Effect of Geographic Range and Dichogamy on Genetic Variability and Population Genetic Structure in Tricyrtis Section Flavae (Liliaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 86 (2). Botanical Society of America: 287–292. doi:10.2307/2656945. JSTOR 2656945. PMID 21680367.
  5. ^ George Schmid, W. (2002). An encyclopedia of shade perennials. Portland, Or.: Timber Press. p. 312. ISBN 0-88192-549-7.
  6. ^ Ronse De Craene (2010-02-04). Floral Diagrams: An Aid to Understanding Flower Morphology and Evolution. Cambridge University Press. pp. 105–. ISBN 978-1-139-48455-8.
  7. ^ a b Masayuki Maki, Hiroko Morita, Syuji Oiki and Hiroshi Takahashi. 1999. The effect of geographic range and dichogamy on genetic variability and population genetic structure in Tricyrtis section Flavae (Liliaceae). Am J. Bot. 86: 287-292.
  8. ^ Cox, Jeff (1998 by Rodale Press) Perennial All-Stars: The 150 Best Perennials for Great-Looking, Trouble-Free Gardens, pg. 305

Bibliography

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