Alstroemeria

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Alstroemeria, commonly called the Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, is a South American genus of about 50 flower, mainly from cool, mountainous regions in the Andes. It is sometimes called 'Ulster Mary' (as a word corruption).

It was named after the Swedish baron Jonas Alströmer by his close friend Carolus Linnaeus. The flower's seeds were among many collected by Carl von Linné on a trip to South America in 1753.

The plants are tuberous or rhizomatous perennials. The young plant starts growing from the main rhizome. Another 5 to 7 rhizomes start growing from the main rhizome, sending up, per year, between 60 to 80 flower shoots. They grow to a height of 50-130 cm.

Each erect stem grows a handsome foliage of a few lanceolate leaves, and ends in an umbel of colorful flowers. These have 6 petals with spots, striped markings and contrasting patches.

This gorgeous flower, which resembles a miniature lily, is very popular for bouquets and flowers arrangements in the commercial cut flower trade. They are considered by some to be among the most beautiful cut flowers on earth, even if the vase life doesn't last any longer than two weeks. Many hybrids and about 190 cultivars have been developed, with different markings and colors, ranging from white, golden yellow, orange, to apricot, pink, red, purple and lavender.

Species

• Alstroemeria aurea - Lily of the Incas.
• Alstroemeria aurantiaca - Peruvian Lily
• Alstroemeria caryophyllacea - Brazilian Lily
• Alstroemeria haemantha - Purplespot Parrot Lily
• Alstroemeria ligtu - Lily-of-the-Nile
• Alstroemeria psittacina - Lily of the Incas, White-edged Peruvian Lily
• Alstroemeria pulchella - Parrot Lily, Parrot Flower, Red Parrot Beak, New Zealand Christmas Bell

Other published names

• Alstroemeria achirae, Alstroemeria albiflora, Alstroemeria altoparadisea, Alstroemeria amazonica, Alstroemeria anajeana, Alstroemeria anceps, Alstroemeria angustifolia, Alstroemeria annapolina, Alstroemeria apertiflora, Alstroemeria aquidauanica, Alstroemeria araucana, Alstroemeria argento-vittata, Alstroemeria arnicana, Alstroemeria atrorubra, Alstroemeria aulica, Alstroemeria aurantiaca, Alstroemeria bahiensis, Alstroemeria bakeri, Alstroemeria berteroiana, Alstroemeria bilabiata, Alstroemeria bracteata, Alstroemeria brasiliensis, Alstroemeria burchellii, Alstroemeria butantanensis, Alstroemeria caiaponica, Alstroemeria campaniflora, Alstroemeria cantillanica, Alstroemeria caudiculata, Alstroemeria chapadensis, Alstroemeria chilensis, Alstroemeria chillanensis, Alstroemeria chiloensis, Alstroemeria chorillensis, Alstroemeria ciliata, Alstroemeria cordifolia, Alstroemeria crispata, Alstroemeria cuiabana, Alstroemeria cultrifolia, Alstroemeria cunea, Alstroemeria curralensis, Alstroemeria damaziana, Alstroemeria decora, Alstroemeria denticulata, Alstroemeria despuenta, Alstroemeria diazi, Alstroemeria didierana, Alstroemeria diluta, Alstroemeria discolor, Alstroemeria distichifolia, Alstroemeria douradensis, Alstroemeria edulis, Alstroemeria epulauquensis, Alstroemeria espigonensis, Alstroemeria fiebrieiana, Alstroemeria firmulifolia, Alstroemeria flava, Alstroemeria floribunda, Alstroemeria fluminensis, Alstroemeria foliosa, Alstroemeria fuscovinosa, Alstroemeria garaventae, Alstroemeria gardneri, Alstroemeria gayana, Alstroemeria glaucandra, Alstroemeria graminea, Alstroemeria grandifolia, Alstroemeria hassleriana, Alstroemeria huemulina, Alstroemeria hygrophila, Alstroemeria ibitipocae, Alstroemeria igarapavica, Alstroemeria inaequalis, Alstroemeria inconspicua, Alstroemeria inodora, Alstroemeria insignis, Alstroemeria involucrosa, Alstroemeria isabellana, Alstroemeria itabiritensis, Alstroemeria itatiaica, Alstroemeria jacobi, Alstroemeria jequitiana, Alstroemeria jocunda, Alstroemeria kunziana, Alstroemeria lacrima-solis, Alstroemeria lactilutea, Alstroemeria latifolia, Alstroemeria lineatiflora, Alstroemeria litterata, Alstroemeria longaviensis, Alstroemeria longistaminea, Alstroemeria longistyla, Alstroemeria lutea, Alstroemeria macraeana, Alstroemeria macrocarpa, Alstroemeria magenta, Alstroemeria magna, Alstroemeria magnifica, Alstroemeria malmeana, Alstroemeria meyeniana, Alstroemeria modesta, Alstroemeria monantha, Alstroemeria monticola, Alstroemeria mutabilis, Alstroemeria nana, Alstroemeria nervosa, Alstroemeria nidularis, Alstroemeria nubigena, Alstroemeria ochagavii, Alstroemeria odorata, Alstroemeria orchidioides, Alstroemeria oreas, Alstroemeria pallens, Alstroemeria parviflora, Alstroemeria parvula, Alstroemeria patagonica, Alstroemeria pauciflora, Alstroemeria paupercula, Alstroemeria pavoniana, Alstroemeria pelegrina (image), Alstroemeria philippii, Alstroemeria piauhyensis, Alstroemeria plantaginea, Alstroemeria platyphylla, Alstroemeria poetica, Alstroemeria polpaicana, Alstroemeria polyphylla, Alstroemeriapubiflora, Alstroemeria pudica, Alstroemeria punctata, Alstroemeria pygmaea, Alstroemeria radula, Alstroemeria reclinata, Alstroemeria reflexa, Alstroemeria regnelliana, Alstroemeria revoluta, Alstroemeria riedelliana, Alstroemeria rosea, Alstroemeria roseoviridis, Alstroemeria rubra, Alstroemeria sabulosa, Alstroemeria salsilloides, Alstroemeria scaberula, Alstroemeria schenkiana, Alstroemeria schizanthoides, Alstroemeria sellowiana, Alstroemeria sierrae, Alstroemeria sotoana, Alstroemeria soukupii, Alstroemeria spathulata, Alstroemeria spectabilis, Alstroemeria stenopetala, Alstroemeria subrosulacea, Alstroemeria talcaensis, Alstroemeria timida, Alstroemeria umbrosa, Alstroemeria venusta, Alstroemeria versicolor, Alstroemeria violacea, Alstroemeria virginalis, Alstroemeria viridiflora, Alstroemeria volckmanni, Alstroemeria werdermannii, Alstroemeria xanthina, Alstroemeria xavantinensis, Alstroemeria yaelae, Alstroemeria zamioides, Alstroemeria zoelneri.