Articles
GRIFFINIA (AMARYLLIDACEAE), A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BRAZILIAN GEOPHYTE WITH HORTICULTURAL POTENTIAL
Article number
570_4
Pages
57 – 64
Language
English
Abstract
The genus Griffinia consists of about a dozen species of rainforest or dry forest understory bulbous geophytes endemic to eastern Brazil.
Two subgenera are recognized: subgenus Griffinia, found in coastal Atlantic Rainforest and its inland extensions, and subg. Hyline, an herb of sub-xeric cerrado or caatinga vegetation.
The two species of subg. Hyline are nocturnal, white-flowered, and fragrant.
The 10 species of subg. Griffinia are lilac to almost blue-flowered (rarely white). The species of subg. Griffinia are adapted to very low light levels, and have attractive petiolate leaves that are frequently spotted white.
The species are characterized by 2n = 20 chromosomes, but a preponderance of triploid individuals have been found in cultivation in Brazil.
In addition to being exceedingly endangered by habitat destruction, the species have great unexploited horticultural potential as containerized plants and landscape perennials in tropical regions.
Much basic work remains to be done on the genus; for example, nothing is known about its flowering physiology.
One species, G. hyacinthina, has been successfully micropropagated in Brazil.
Development of Griffinia as a floricultural crop must also be pursued with attention to the germplasm rights of the country of origin.
Two subgenera are recognized: subgenus Griffinia, found in coastal Atlantic Rainforest and its inland extensions, and subg. Hyline, an herb of sub-xeric cerrado or caatinga vegetation.
The two species of subg. Hyline are nocturnal, white-flowered, and fragrant.
The 10 species of subg. Griffinia are lilac to almost blue-flowered (rarely white). The species of subg. Griffinia are adapted to very low light levels, and have attractive petiolate leaves that are frequently spotted white.
The species are characterized by 2n = 20 chromosomes, but a preponderance of triploid individuals have been found in cultivation in Brazil.
In addition to being exceedingly endangered by habitat destruction, the species have great unexploited horticultural potential as containerized plants and landscape perennials in tropical regions.
Much basic work remains to be done on the genus; for example, nothing is known about its flowering physiology.
One species, G. hyacinthina, has been successfully micropropagated in Brazil.
Development of Griffinia as a floricultural crop must also be pursued with attention to the germplasm rights of the country of origin.
Publication
Authors
A.W. Meerow, K.D. Preuss, A. Fernando, C. Tombolato
Keywords
flower bulb, geophyte, endangered species, floriculture, new crops
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