Image of Rhodophiala rhodolirion
VII Region, Reserva Nacional Altos del Lircay, Chile
Altitude: 1400-2200 m. 01 18, 2006
Species: | Rhodophiala rhodolirion (Baker) Traub | |
Family: | Amaryllidaceae | |
Order: | Liliales | |
Chilean Name: | Añañuca de cordillera | |
English Name: | Evening primrose | |
German Name: | ||
Russian Name: |
Record: | 0016 |
About 26 Rhodophiala in Chile and 22 in our data base. | |
About 38 Amaryllidaceae in Chile and 31 in our data base. |
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Native Not Frequent
Excellent ornamental value (A +) |
SILENCE KILLS...Civilized Human Beings can not be Silent Accomplices to Murder and War CrimesDid you know that: |
INTRODUCTIONThis is another Rhodophiala of the Central Andes of Chile - it has big flowers, pinkish or whitish in color, which can not be mistaken for any other plant. Although not very frecuent, where they grow, the density of these plants may be quite high, creating a nice speckled carpet of flowers in late spring. |
Image of Rhodophiala rhodolirion VII Region, Paso Vergara, Chile
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DESCRIPTIONPlant type: Perennial Flower: Red, 6 petals
This is a perennial bulbous plant of about 10 - 20 cm. The leaves are generally absent during the flourishing. The leaves are linear and 10 - 20 cm long and about 3 -4 mm wide. The plant has big, pinkish or whitish flowers with darker stripes. The flower can be as big as 10 cm in diameter and has six yellow stamens and one pinkish pistil which is quite longer than the stamens, and the flowers are solitary (this differentiates them from the other two commonly found Rhodophialas - the splenderosa, and bakeri). The seeds come in a three-parted greenish-brown capsule which contains about 20 - 40 shiny black flat round seeds of 1 cm of diameter stacked up one on the other like pages of a book. The flowers appear in December - January, generally later than other Rhodophialas, and the seeds are ripe in February-March. |
Image of Rhodophiala rhodolirion VII Region, Paso Vergara, Chile
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HABITATIn Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions:
Habitat according to altitude: Extreme altitude well beyond the timber line
Watering conditions: Humid areas, with almost constant rainfall. Short dry periods are possible (generally not longer than 1 month).
Light conditions: Fully exposed to the sun. Level areas or slopes facing north.
This plant gows at high elevations in Central and Central-southern Chile, in Talca at about 1800 - 2200 m., in Santiago at 2800 - 3200 m., well above the tree line, prefers sunny spots, generally on sandy or rocky ground with good drainage and poororganic matter content. It needs a lot of water during its vegetative growth (in early spring), but during the flowering it can withstand dry spells of up to two months (the bulbs store nutrients and water necessary for flowering). |
Image of Rhodophiala rhodolirion VII Region, Paso Vergara, Chile
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USESExcellent ornamental value (A +)
Ornamental. |
Image of Rhodophiala rhodolirion VII Region, Paso Vergara, Chile
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GROWING TIPSThis species has the following hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zone 7, even 6b. The plant tolerates low temperatures (-15° C even -20° C), it can be covered by snow for months (1 - 8 months).
Relatively easy to cultivate
It can be easily propaged by seeds or, much more complicated, by division of bulbs. The seeds must be immersed in water for a day o two and then stratified in damp sand for three to four of weeks at 5ºC (this is absolutely required, without it thegermination will be very low"). Then, the seeds are planted in warm soil (20ºC). Do not expect flowers for at least two seasons, because the bulb needs time to develop. If you are interested in purchasing seeds of this or similar species, please go to our On-line Seeds Shop. |
More photos (19) of Rhodophiala rhodolirion (Baker) Traub available here |
More species from the same Amaryllidaceae family in our data base: Narcissus tazeta (Junco / narciso) Narcissus tazetta subsp. italicus (Junco / narciso) Phycella bicolor (Azucena del diablo) Phycella ignea (Añañuca de fuego) Rhodophiala andicola (Añañuca de los volcanes) Rhodophiala bagnoldii (Añañuca amarilla) Rhodophiala laeta (Añañuca rosada) Rhodophiala montana (Añañuca de las montañas) Rhodophiala phycelloides (Revienta ojos) Rhodophiala rhodolirion (Añañuca de cordillera) |