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Pancratium (plant)
Genus of flowering plants From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Pancratium is a genus of African and Eurasian perennial, herbaceous and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae[3][4][5]
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Description
Vegetative characteristics
Pancratium are perennial, bulbous, herbs[6] with long-necked bulbs[7] and linear or ligulate, basal, sessile leaves.[6]
Generative characteristics
The flowers are large, white and fragrant. The perianth tube and the corona are present. It differs from the similar Hymenocallis in its numerous seeds with a thin black skin.[8] The loculicidal capsule fruit[7] bears black, glossy seeds.[9]
Cytology
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Taxonomy
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Perspective
It was published by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The lectotype species Pancratium maritimum L. was designated in 1918.[1] It is placed in the tribe Pancratieae.[12]
Etymology
The name Pancratium is derived from the Greek and means "all-strength", probably referring to the strength of a plant that can tolerate extreme climates. Pancratium species often inhabit extremely dry and sandy areas.[13]
Species
Many species have been published using the name Pancratium, but most have been transferred to other genera (Clinanthus, Hymenocallis, Ismene, Proiphys and Stenomesson).[2] Only a few species are cultivated. P. maritimum and P. illyricum being the hardiest for outdoor cultivation, but shy flowering in cool areas. P. zeylanicum is sometimes grown as a hothouse container plant.[citation needed]
As of June 2023[update], Plants of the World Online of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew accepted 24 species in the genus:[2]
- Pancratium arabicum Sickenb. - Egypt
- Pancratium bhramarambae Sadas.
- Pancratium biflorum Roxb. - India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong
- Pancratium canariense Ker Gawl. - Canary Islands
- Pancratium centrale (A.Chev.) Traub - Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Central African Republic
- Pancratium donaldii Blatt. - India
- Pancratium foetidum Pomel - Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya
- Pancratium illyricum L. - Corsica, Sardinia, Capri Island
- Pancratium landesii Traub - Oman
- Pancratium longiflorum Roxb. ex Ker Gawl. - India
- Pancratium maritimum L. - Canary Islands, Mediterranean, Caucasus
- Pancratium maximum Forssk. - Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman
- Pancratium nairii Sasikala & Reema Kumari
- Pancratium parvicoronatum Geerinck - Democratic Republic of the Congo to Malawi
- Pancratium parvum Dalzell - India
- Pancratium sickenbergeri Asch. & Schweinf. - Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Saudi Arabia
- Pancratium st-mariae Blatt. & Hallb. - India
- Pancratium telanganense Sadas.
- Pancratium tenuifolium Hochst. ex A.Rich. - tropical and southern Africa[14]
- Pancratium tortuosum Herb. - Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia
- Pancratium trianthum Herb. - Sahara, Sahel
- Pancratium triflorum Roxb. - India, Bangladesh
- Pancratium verecundum Aiton - Himalayas
- Pancratium zeylanicum L. - India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, Philippines, Maluku
Additionally, further species have been recently described:
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Distribution
It is native to Africa, the Mediterranean, and Malesia. It has been introduced to the Azores, Bermuda, the Comoros, Great Britain, and the USA.[2]
Ecology
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Pollination ecology
Pancratium tenuifolium and Pancratium maritimum is pollinated by the moth species Agrius convolvuli.[16][17][18][19][20] In Pancratium maritimum pollination by bees, namely Xylocopa violacea, Apis mellifera, and Anthophora bimaculata, has also been reported.[20] However, it has been stated that bees are not effective pollinators of this species and that it fully depends on hawkmoths for effective pollination.[21]
Herbivory
The moth species Brithys crini feeds on Pancratium maritimum in the larval stage.[22]
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Use
Horticulture
Pancratium zeylanicum is commonly cultivated in Asia.[23]
Cultural significance
Plants belonging to the genus Pancratium have been found in prehistoric Cretan frescoes.[24]
References
External links
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