2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Tritoma (lat. Kniphofia) - a bright flowering plant from the Asphodel family. And earlier classifications often referred this plant to the Liliaceae family. Its other names are knifofia or kniphofia: both of these names were given to the beautiful plant in honor of the famous German botanist and doctor, as well as professor of medicine at the University of Erfurt, Johann Hieronymus Kniphof.
Description
Tritoma is an incredibly spectacular exotic plant, characterized by an elongated, aspiring active form of growth. The stems of this herbaceous perennial (by the way, there are also evergreen varieties of tritomas!) Are always very short, and sometimes the tritoma can even be stemless. As for the overall height of this beauty, it usually ranges from thirty centimeters to half a meter.
Numerous leathery basal leaves of tritomas have a narrow lanceolate shape, and they all form rather dense basal rosettes-bunches, from the centers of which slender peduncles emerge.
Tritoma inflorescences look like long, multi-flowered ears, consisting of small flowers of yellowish-red, orange or yellow shades. By the way, many tritoma inflorescences are characterized by a very attractive two-color coloring - as a rule, this is due to the fact that in the open state the flowers of this beauty differ in a completely different color than the buds. And the fruits of this plant are in the form of boxes.
In total, the genus of tritoma includes about seventy species.
Where grows
Several varieties of tritoma, as well as its numerous hybrids, are quite widespread throughout the world. But this plant is especially widespread on the island of Madagascar and in Africa.
Usage
Bright tritoma will be a great decoration for all kinds of interior compositions, and for various festive bouquets, but most often this plant is still used in vertical arrangements, both linear and decorative styles. Absolutely any arrangement with the inclusion of tritome instantly acquires incredibly spectacular exotic notes! This beauty looks especially great as part of rustic arrangements, because it allows you to create amazing bright accents! The tritom is also excellent for growing in flower beds or in flower beds.
By the way, the lower tritoma flowers, when dried, retain their color, which allows them to be included in a wide variety of compositions. Moreover, in compositions on oases, this plant can easily stand for a whole week! In general, the tritoma is characterized by an average resistance in the cut - from five to ten days. In addition, tritoma can be used quite successfully as a pot plant.
And since the tritoma is extremely unimportant to tolerate high air temperature and high humidity, it is recommended to store it in a small amount of water in the refrigerator.
Growing and caring
Tritomas will grow best in open, sunny areas. As for the soils, ideally they should be well-drained and nutritious. And this beauty should be watered moderately, but certainly regularly.
The overwhelming majority of tritoma species and hybrids can boast of very impressive winter hardiness - they can easily tolerate a temperature drop to minus ten or even minus fifteen degrees. At the same time, stronger frosts can be destructive for tritomas, therefore, in regions with severe frosts, this plant must be covered for the winter.
And the reproduction of tritomas is usually carried out either by dividing the bushes in the spring, or by seeds.
