Rhodophiala
Encyclopedia
Rhodophiala is a genus of herbaceous
, perennial and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae
, subfamily Amaryllidoideae). It consists of 28 South American species
distributed in southern Brazil
, Argentina
, and, specially, in Chile
.
, in the former Amaryllis
or even in a new genus Rhodolirium. The foliage, narrowly strap-shaped leaves, is very different from all known hippeastrums and rather resembles that of the large flowered Habranthus
or Zephyranthes
.
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
, perennial and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae
Amaryllidaceae
Amaryllidoideae is the subfamily of flowering plants that takes its name from the genus Amaryllis. It is part of the family Amaryllidaceae, in order Asparagales...
, subfamily Amaryllidoideae). It consists of 28 South American species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
distributed in southern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and, specially, in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.
Description
Members of Rhodophiala look like small-flowered hippeastrums or multiflowered habranthi. It has been placed in HippeastrumHippeastrum
Hippeastrum is a genus of about 90 species and 600+ hybrids and cultivars of bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas from Argentina north to Mexico and the Caribbean. Some species are grown for their large...
, in the former Amaryllis
Amaryllis
Amaryllis is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest region near the Cape...
or even in a new genus Rhodolirium. The foliage, narrowly strap-shaped leaves, is very different from all known hippeastrums and rather resembles that of the large flowered Habranthus
Habranthus
Habranthus is a genus of tender herbaceous flowering bulbs in the Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. The genus was first identified by pioneering bulb enthusiast William Herbert in 1824.-Description:...
or Zephyranthes
Zephyranthes
Zephyranthes is a genus of 71 species in the Amaryllis family . There are numerous hybrids and cultivars. Common names for species in this genus include fairy lily, rainflower, zephyr lily, magic lily, Atamasco lily, and rain lily.The name is derived from Ζέφυρος , the Greek god of the west...
.
Species
The list of Rhodophiala species, with their complete scientific name and authority, is given below.- Rhodophiala advena (Ker Gawl.John Bellenden Ker GawlerJohn Bellenden Ker, originally John Gawler was an English botanist born about 1764 in Ramridge, Andover, Hampshire and died in June 1842 in the same town. On 5 November 1804 he changed his name to Ker Bellenden, but continued to sign his name as Bellenden Ker until his death...
) Traub, from Central Chile. - Rhodophiala ananuca (Phil.Rodolfo Amando PhilippiRodolfo Amando Philippi was a German-Chilean paleontologist and zoologist....
) Traub, from Northern Chile. - Rhodophiala andicola (Poepp.Eduard Friedrich PoeppigEduard Friedrich Poeppig was a German botanist, zoologist and explorer.-Biography:He was born in Plauen, Saxony. He studied medicine and natural history at the University of Leipzig, graduating with a medical degree. On graduation, the rector of the university gave him a botanical mission to North...
) Traub, distributed from Chile to Argentina (NeuquénNeuquénNeuquén is the name of the following things:* Neuquén, Argentina* Neuquén Province* Neuquén River* Neuquén Group...
). - Rhodophiala andina Phil., from Central Chile.
- Rhodophiala araucana (Phil.) Traub, distributed from Chile to Southern Argentina.
- Rhodophiala bagnoldii (Herb.) Traub, from Northern and Central Chile.
- Rhodophiala bakeri (Phil.) Traub, from Central Chile.
- Rhodophiala berteroana (Phil.) Traub, from Central Chile.
- Rhodophiala bifida (Herb.) Traub, distributed from Southern Brazil to Argentina (Buenos AiresBuenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
). - Rhodophiala biflora Phil., from Chile.
- Rhodophiala chilensis (L'Hér.Charles Louis L'Héritier de BrutelleCharles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle was an 18th century French botanist and magistrate. Born into an affluent upper-class Parisian family, connections with the French Royal Court secured him the position of Superindent of Parisian Waters and Forests at the age of twenty-six...
) Traub, from Chile. - Rhodophiala cipoana Ravenna, endemic to Brazil (Minas GeraisMinas GeraisMinas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
). - Rhodophiala colonum (Phil.) Traub, from Southern Chile.
- Rhodophiala consobrina (Phil.) Traub, from Central Chile.
- Rhodophiala flava (Phil.) Traub, from Southern Chile.
- Rhodophiala fulgens (Hook.f.Joseph Dalton HookerSir Joseph Dalton Hooker OM, GCSI, CB, MD, FRS was one of the greatest British botanists and explorers of the 19th century. Hooker was a founder of geographical botany, and Charles Darwin's closest friend...
) Traub, from Central Chile. - Rhodophiala gilliesiana (Herb.) ined. distributed from Chile to Southern Argentina.
- Rhodophiala lineata (Phil.) Traub, from Chile.
- Rhodophiala maculata (L'Hér.) Ravenna, from Chile.
- Rhodophiala moelleri (Phil.) Traub, from Southern Chile.
- Rhodophiala montana (Phil.) Traub, from Chile.
- Rhodophiala phycelloides (Herb.) Hunz., fropm Chile.
- Rhodophiala popetana (Phil.) Traub, from Central Chile.
- Rhodophiala pratensis (Poepp.Eduard Friedrich PoeppigEduard Friedrich Poeppig was a German botanist, zoologist and explorer.-Biography:He was born in Plauen, Saxony. He studied medicine and natural history at the University of Leipzig, graduating with a medical degree. On graduation, the rector of the university gave him a botanical mission to North...
) Traub, from Northern and Central Chile. - Rhodophiala rhodolirion (BakerJohn Gilbert BakerJohn Gilbert Baker was an English botanist.Baker was born in Guisborough, the son of John and Mary Baker and educated at Quaker schools in Ackworth and York....
) Traub, distributed from Chile to Argentina (MendozaMendoza, ArgentinaMendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
). - Rhodophiala rosea (Sweet) Traub, from Chile.
- Rhodophiala splendens (Renjifo) Traub, from Central Chile.
- Rhodophiala tiltilensis (Traub & MoldenkeHarold Norman MoldenkeHarold Norman Moldenke, also known as simply Moldenke was an American botanist/taxonomist. His expertise is largely in the study of Verbenaceae, Avicenniaceae, Stilbaceae, Dicrastylidaceae, Symphoremaceae, Nyctanthaceae and Eriocaulaceae....
) Traub, from Central Chile.
Uses
Several species of ths genus are cultivated as ornamental plants. From the cultivation point of view Rhodophiala species can be separated in four groups:- The autumn/winter/spring growing Chilean species that need a dry summer dormancy, like R. bagnoldi, R. ovalleana, R. splendens, and R. advena. All of them are better grown under frost free conditions although several of them can be quite tolerant to cooler conditions. Some flower in fall without leaves, others in spring together with leaves growth.
- The spring/summer growing species from the Andes of both Chile and Argentina. They spend a long very dry winter unders snow. They include R. rhodolirion, R. araucana, R. andicola, and R. elwesii. These need cool conditions during almost all the year but are half hardy in countries like EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Flowers are produced in spring together with the leaves in most cases. - The autumn/winter/spring growing Rhodophiala bifida from UruguayUruguayUruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
and Argentina. It is dormant in summer but it receives rains all the year. Therefore, it is intolerant to summer drought, that would make it lose the roots. It is quite hardy. Summers always long and hot in the wild. There is an interesting range of color forms in this easy species. As a rule, a population has flowers of a single color with few, if any, variant. It flowers in late summer before foliage production.