When does the Lycoris radiata bloom and bear fruit?
Today's sharing: When does Lycoris radiata bloom and bear fruit and a detailed explanation of the reasons why Lycoris radiata does not bloom, the topic of flowers and plants. Let's learn about it together.
In the vast areas south of the line from Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Henan in China, there grows a relatively special herbaceous plant that withers in summer, blooms in August to September, and produces leaves after flowering. It is commonly called Lycoris or Red Spider Lily, which has medicinal and ornamental value. Today, I will talk about some information about this plant.
I. Botanical characteristics of Lycoris
1. Name and classification status
Lycoris radiata is the formal Chinese name, which originates from "Ben Cao Tu Jing." It is confirmed as the formal Chinese name in "Flora of China." It has many aliases, such as "Cockroach Flower" in Shanghai; "Dragon Claw Flower" in Shaanxi, Hubei, and Jiangsu; and various names like "Crow Garlic," "Oven Chicken Flower," "Never Meet Again," "Thunder from the Ground," "Mandala," "Red Spider Lily," "Two Lives Flower," "Ghost Flower," and "Abandoned Child Flower." It belongs to the Lycoris genus of the Amaryllidaceae family in the Monocotyledonae class, as a perennial herbaceous plant.
2. Distribution and growing environment
Lycoris radiata is mainly distributed in the vast areas south of the line from Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Henan in China; it grows wild or cultivated, usually in damp slopes and riverbanks in the wild, and is commonly seen in gardens when cultivated.
3. Physical characteristics
It is a perennial herb with a nearly spherical bulb, with purplish-red membranous scales on the outside and white inside, diameter 2-4 cm, with sparse hard fibrous roots at the bottom.
In autumn, after flowering, leaves emerge in clusters, narrow and strap-shaped, 20-35 cm long and 0.5 cm wide, with a blunt tip, deep green, and a light green stripe in the middle.
The scape emerges before the leaves, with a solid central peduncle, 20-40 cm tall; there are 2 bracts, lanceolate, about 30 cm long; the umbel has 4-7 flowers, bright red, with narrow inverted lanceolate perianth lobes, wrinkled, and reflexed after spreading; there are 6 stamens; it blooms from August to September; the capsule usually splits backward, with 3 valves, and the fruit ripens in October.
II. Main uses of Lycoris
Firstly, for ornamental purposes. Lycoris radiata has evergreen leaves in winter and bright red flowers in autumn, making it an excellent perennial herbaceous flower. Because its flowers and leaves do not appear at the same time, it can be cultivated as a ground cover plant in shady places or under forests, and it can also be used for ornamental purposes in flower borders, flower beds, and among rocks. It also makes a beautiful cut flower material.
Secondly, for medicinal purposes. The bulb of Lycoris radiata can be used medicinally, with a spicy and sweet taste, warm in nature, and toxic. It has effects such as detoxification, expectorant, diuretic, emetic, and insecticidal properties; it mainly contains lycorine, narcissine, ricinine, and galanthamine as active ingredients. Please follow medical advice when using it as medicine.
Thirdly, the underground bulb of Lycoris radiata can be extracted for starch, which is edible; the flower is toxic and not edible.
The above content introduces when Lycoris radiata blooms and bears fruit and a detailed explanation of the reasons why Lycoris radiata does not bloom. Have the green plant enthusiasts understood it?