When does the Lycoris bloom and bear fruit?
A small knowledge of life, introducing when the Lycoris blooms and bears fruit and the best planting time for the green plant flowers such as West府海棠, the editor of this site will introduce to you next.
In the vast areas south of the line from Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Henan in China, there grows a relatively special herbaceous plant, which withers in summer, blooms in August and September, and produces leaves after flowering. It is commonly called Lycoris or Red Spider Lily, and it 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 is the formal Chinese name, derived from "Materia Medica Compendium." 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 other names like "Raven Garlic," "Oven Chicken Flower," "Never Meet Again," "Thunder from Flat Ground," "Mandala," "Other Shore Flower," "Two-Life Flower," "Ghost Flower," "Abandoned Child Flower," etc. In botanical classification, it belongs to the perennial herbaceous plant of the Lycoris genus, Lycoris family, and Monocotyledonae.
2. Distribution and growing environment
Lycoris 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 and shady slopes and riverbanks, and is commonly seen in gardens.
3. Physical characteristics
It is a perennial herb with a nearly spherical bulb, purple-red membranous scales on the outside, and white inside, with a diameter of 2-4 cm and sparse hard fibrous roots at the bottom.
Leaves appear after the flowers in autumn, growing in clusters, narrow and strap-shaped, 20-35 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, with a blunt tip, deep green, and a pink green stripe in the middle.
The flower scape emerges before the leaves, with a solid peduncle, 20-40 cm tall; with 2 bracts, lanceolate, about 30 cm long; the umbel inflorescence has 4-7 flowers, bright red, with narrow inverted-lanceolate petals, wrinkled, and reflexed after spreading, with 6 stamens; blooms in August-September; the fruit is a capsule, usually splitting open at the back, with 3 valves, maturing in October.
When does the Lycoris bloom and bear fruit?
II. Main uses of Lycoris
Firstly, for ornamental purposes. Lycoris has evergreen leaves in winter and 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 forest trees, and can also be arranged in flower borders, flower beds, and among rocks for ornamental purposes. It also makes a beautiful cut flower material.
Secondly, for medicinal purposes. The bulbs of Lycoris can be used medicinally, with a spicy and sweet taste, warm in nature, and toxic, having effects such as detoxification, expectorant, diuretic, emetic, and insecticidal properties. It mainly contains effective components like Lycorine, Haemanthin, Lycoramine, and Galanthamine. Please consult a doctor when using it medicinally.
Thirdly, the underground bulbs of Lycoris can be extracted for starch, which is edible; however, the flowers are toxic and not edible.
The above is a comprehensive introduction to when Lycoris blooms and bears fruit and the best planting time for West府海棠, hoping to bring some knowledge about green plants to green plant enthusiasts.