2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Ledeburia (lat. Ledebouria) - a genus of bulbous plants native to South Africa, referred by botanists to the Asparagus family (lat. Asparagaceae). In areas with cold winters, it is grown as a houseplant. The plant won its popularity among flower growers with its original leaves with a spotted surface and inflorescences of small flowers, resembling miniature bells or barrels.
What's in your name
The Latin name of the genus "Ledebouria" immortalizes the name of a German botanist who was in the Russian service in the first quarter of the 19th century. His name is Carl Friedrich von Ledebour. Working in Russia, Lidebourg, together with the students of the school of florists-taxonomists, first founded by him in Russia, did a great job on the taxonomy of plants in our country.
He was not just an office worker, but traveled to areas with little-studied vegetation, where he collected herbariums and made descriptions of plants. One of these trips was an expedition to the little-studied Altai at that time, where for nine months Ledebour, in the company with two more botanists, his students, managed to collect about 1600 species of Altai plants, a quarter of which were new species. Such a wealth of information fits into four volumes written by Ledebour. The descriptions were accompanied by excellent illustrations.
The genus of plants Ledeburia at different times was described by different botanists, who attributed it to different families. Therefore, in the literature you can find, for example, that the genus Ledeburia belongs to the family
Liliaceae (lat. Liliaceae).
Description
The basis of plants of the genus Ledeburia is a violet-purple or brownish bulb that feeds the aerial part and is responsible for their long life. The emerging daughter bulbs give birth to new rosettes of leaves, forming a dense carpet on the surface of the earth.
The cephalic rosette is formed by erect, smooth leaves, which can take different shapes depending on the type of plant (elliptical, broad-lanceolate or lanceolate). The number of leaves in a rosette varies from one to several pieces. Leaves can be monochromatic or spotted, with dark green or purple spots on a silvery-green background.
Loose clusters-inflorescences, towering on peduncles-arrows above the rosette of leaves, are formed by numerous small (from 20 to 50 pieces) flowers, colored from bright lilac to dark pink or purple. There may be green or yellowish-green nondescript flowers with a characteristic green stripe in the center of each petal.
Varieties
* Ledeburia public (lat. Ledebouria socialis) - a species popular as a houseplant. It is distinguished by the compactness of the rosette of silver-gray leaves with strokes and spots of olive color on their surface, unpretentious disposition, and rapid growth. Propagated by daughter bulbs.
* Ledeburia Cooper (lat. Ledebouria cooperi) - also grown as a houseplant. The dark green leaves of the plant are decorated with purple stripes, and the numerous small flowers that form cluster inflorescences are pink-purple with green stripes in the center of the petals, or with green tips.
* Ribbed Ledeburia (Latin Ledebouria crispa) - a species on the list of endangered plants.
* Ledeburia drooping (Latin Ledebouria revoluta) - the species most common in the east of South Africa. Differs in diversity and variability of appearance.
* Ledeburia Lepida (lat. Ledebouria lepida) - a rare species that needs to be protected from complete extinction from the face of the Earth.
Healing abilities
Some species of the genus Ledeburia are used medicinally for diarrhea, back pain, flu, skin irritation.
Although the plants of the genus are known to be poisonous, African Bushmen use the bulbs "Ledebouria revoluta" and "Ledebouria apertiflora" in their diet.
Growing conditions
As a rule, plants of the genus Ledeburia are easily cultivated through sowing seeds. Flowering in this case occurs after three years. Easier to propagate by leafy cuttings or daughter bulbs.
Most species like full sun and well-drained soil. Watering is carried out only during the summer growing season, stopping watering during the winter rest period.
