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Clivia

Clivia


Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Genus: Clivia
Species

C. caulescens
C. gardenii
C. miniata
C. mirabilis
C. nobilis

Clivia is a genus of monocot flowering plants native to southern Africa. Clivias are nonwoody perennial plants, with dark green, straplike leaves that produce clusters of orange or red-orange bell-shaped flowers on a stalk above the foliage, resembling lilies. Of the five known species, Clivia miniata is the most widely cultivated, and hybrid varieties, with flowers ranging from deep red-orange to pale yellow, have been bred by growers around the world, particularly Belgium, France, and China.

Specimens were gathered by British explorers William Burchell and John Bowie in 1815 and 1820, respectively. Clivia nobilis was the first named species, in 1828 by Kew botanist John Lindley in honor of Lady Charlotte Florentine Clive, Duchess of Northumberland.



07-14-2008 23:18:10
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