Eucomis bicolor

Eucomis bicolor, the variegated pineapple lily or just pineapple lily,^[2] is a bulbous species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to Southern Africa (the Cape Provinces, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, and the Northern Provinces).^[1] The pale green, purple-margined flowers are arranged in a spike (raceme), topped by a "head" of green leaflike bracts. It is cultivated as an ornamental bulbous plant, although its flowers have an unpleasant smell, attractive to the main pollinators, flies.

Eucomis bicolor
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Scilloideae
Genus:	Eucomis
Species:	E. bicolor
Binomial name
Eucomis bicolor Baker[1]

Description

In the Royal Natal National Park

Eucomis bicolor is a perennial growing from a large bulb. It reaches 30–60 cm (12–24 in) in height, with a basal rosette of wavy leaves 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long. In late summer (August in the UK), it produces a stout stem (peduncule), often with purple markings. The inflorescence is a raceme of pale green, purple margined flowers with tepals up to 15 mm (1⁄2 in) long, borne on pedicels 2 cm (3⁄4 in) long. The inflorescence is terminated by a head (coma) of pale green leafy bracts, sometimes tinged with purple. At close quarters the flowers have a strongly unpleasant smell. The ovary is green.^[3][4][5]

The homoisoflavanones eucomin, eucomol,^[6] (E)-7-O-methyl-eucomin, (—)-7-O-methyleucomol, (+)-3,9-dihydro-eucomin and 7-O-methyl-3,9-dihydro-eucomin^[7] can be isolated from bulbs of E. bicolor.

Eucomis bicolour, pineapple lily

Taxonomy

Eucomis bicolor was first described by John Gilbert Baker in 1878.^[1] The specific epithet bicolor means "two-coloured";^[8] the tepals are pale green with purple margins.^[3] It is one of a group of larger tetraploid species of Eucomis, with 2n = 4x = 60.^[9]

Distribution and habitat

Eucomis bicolor is native to Southern Africa (the Cape Provinces, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, and the Northern Provinces).^[1] Along the Drakensberg escarpment it is found in damp grassland, often near streams, up to elevations of 2,500 m (8,200 ft).^[3]

Ecology

Fly on flowers

Eucomis bicolor is primarily pollinated by flies, including blowflies, house flies and flesh flies, attracted by the sulphur compounds in the scent of the flowers.^[10]

Cultivation

In cultivation, Eucomis bicolor is not fully frost-hardy. In the US, it is classed as hardy in USDA zones 8–10, and requires a winter mulch in colder areas (zones 6–7).^[2] In the UK, it is said to be hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F), if kept dry in winter. Sun exposure and plentiful water are required in summer for successful flowering.^[3] It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[11]

The cultivar E. bicolor 'Alba' has plain white flowers and lacks any purple coloration. It resembles Eucomis autumnalis but can be distinguished by the long flower stalks (pedicels).^[3]