Description of the distinctive features of the plant, advice on growing gloriosa, flower reproduction, overcoming difficulties in cultivation, interesting facts, species. Gloriosa is a flowering plant that belongs to the Colchicaceae family. All the varieties that are part of this family can be safely attributed to the flora samples ranked in the order of Liliales. Now, even without seeing gloriosa, one can imagine that it looks like a well-known lily, but apparently there are some differences. So let's figure out what kind of unknown green inhabitant of the natural world of our planet is.
This beautiful flower, with its native growing territories, "venerates" the lands in southern Asia and Africa, where a tropical climate prevails, and the plant has also received acclimatization on the Australian continent and the islands of Oceania. In those areas, gloriosa is ubiquitous.
The Bezvremennikov family includes about 200 species of flora, with a herbaceous form of growth and a long-term life cycle, but only 5 of them are attributed to the genus gloriosa. The flower got its name thanks to the Latin word "gloriosus", translated as "glorified" or "glorious" or "gloria" - simply "glory". However, among the people there are also more romantic and colorful names of this plant - "lily of flame" ("fiery lily"), "lily of glory", which is probably associated with the outlines of the petals of the buds, directed upward like tongues of flame. And also "climbing lily", due to the similarity of shoots with liana-like branches or "gloriosa lily".
So, gloriosa provides a specimen of flora with climbing shoots and grassy contours. The plant's rhizome is located in the horizontal plane. Tubers located below the surface of the substrate are spindle-shaped and often V-shaped. One growth bud is also located there, the roots are absent. But how is this possible, a plant without roots? But these root processes take their development in the region of the root collar of gloriosa, at the very stem base. They are covered with a thin skin colored golden brown. These roots are very fragile and die off for the winter. Tubers are in a state of rest from autumn to spring. And with the arrival of spring days, they begin to wake up and start up intensive growth.
Shoots are quite branched and densely covered with foliage. Their length can reach 5 meters. In just two months from the beginning of the growing season, the stems of the "lily of the flame" can be measured already at 1–2 meters and it is necessary to provide supports for thin shoots, which can be twigs or sticks, to which it will subsequently be possible to attach elongated shoots. On the stems there are leaf endings, similar to antennae, with which the branches cling to any protruding support and rush up.
The leaf plates are sessile and are arranged in succession on the branches or whorled, three units each. Their shape is narrow-ovate-lanceolate, and at the top there is a thinning, which twists in the form of a spiral and resembles a tendril. The surface of the sheet is glossy.
Flowers are the real pride of this plant. The flowering process occurs in the summer months. They are located one by one, crowning a long pedicel, which originates in the leaf sinuses. The size of the buds is very large, it can approach 10 cm in diameter, the outlines are correct (actinomorphic), that is, you can draw a vertical plane in at least two directions, which will divide the flower along the axis into equal halves. The flowers are bisexual. The perianth is divided to the very base, its 3 pairs of leaves have a bend towards the peduncle. The shape of these leaves is lanceolate, the edge is wavy. The color on the outside is pinkish, and its inner part is two-colored: there is a yellow tint at the base, and at the top it gradually changes to a bright red hue. Interestingly, from the very beginning, the color of the perianth leaves is pale green, and only over time it acquires the described shades.
6 stamens grow in the bud. The stamens have a radial arrangement, they are sub-papillary and are similar to the spokes on a wheel. The anthers, which crown the stamens, open along the length when ripe, thus forming a slit. The ovary is superior and consists of 3 compartments. Carpels are spliced only along their inner borders. The number of oocytes is multiple. Flowers on a plant can last for 10 days and therefore they look good when cut and are used in the preparation of phytocompositions by florists.
After flowering, the fruit is formed in the form of a multi-seeded capsule, which is subsequently opened.
Agrotechnology for growing gloriosa, care
- Lighting and location. The plant is thermophilic and light-loving, but the direct midday rays of the sun harm it. It is recommended to grow gloriosa in the west or east window.
- Content temperature. "Lily of Glory" is grown at room temperature (20-22 degrees). In autumn, the entire aerial part dies off and the tuber must be stored in dry soil or sawdust at temperatures of 5-10 degrees Celsius (maximum 12).
- Moisture content during cultivation, gloriosa should be in the range of 60–70%. Frequent spraying with warm soft water is required.
- Watering. If, after planting, no shoots are still visible on the surface of the soil, then watering is carried out moderately, the soil should always be in a moist state, but the substrate cannot be poured. After the start of active growth, watering increases.
- Fertilizers applied from mid-spring to late July. Apply complex dressings for indoor flowering plants, without violating the dosage indicated in the instructions.
- Transplant and selection of soil for the "fiery lily". With the arrival of February, you need to prepare the tuber for planting. A wide and flat pot with a diameter of about 30–35 cm is selected, while the depth should not exceed 20–25 cm. Several nodules are often planted in one container. They are placed horizontally in relation to the surface of the soil, and on top it is required to sprinkle with a layer of the same substrate, its height should not exceed 3 cm. A layer of drainage material is placed in the pot before filling the soil. The substrate for planting is selected light with good nutritional value, its acidity is equal to pH 6 (that is, the soil should be slightly acidic). It is mixed from turf soil, humus, leafy soil, peat soil and river sand in proportions of 1: 2: 1: 0, 5: 1.
Planting and breeding gloriosa at home
A new bush of the "lily of glory" can really be obtained by sowing seeds and tuberous propagation.
When tubers are planted, their germination may not be lost for 6-9 months. When the flowering ends, the old gloriosa tuber dies, since all its strength is expended on the dissolution of the buds. A new one is formed in its place, but if the care is thorough, then several young nodules may appear at once. A plant grown vegetatively will bloom in a year or 2 years.
Tubers are planted at the end of the first spring month or early April. For this, containers with a diameter of up to 13-16 cm are prepared. The substrate is made up of sod soil, leafy and humus soil, river sand, keeping the proportions 1: 2: 2: 0, 5. The tubers are immersed in the soil so that the end with a sprout, near the corner fold of the tuber was at the top. Then the top of the tuber is covered with a 3 cm layer of soil. The pots are placed in a warm place with a temperature of 22-24 degrees. Spill gloriosa only when the sprout appears. The shoot will need to be fixed to a peg. When the earthen lump is completely mastered by the roots, they are transplanted into open ground or into large pots.
For seed propagation, they are sown in containers in early spring. Heat indicators during germination are maintained within 21-24 degrees. The substrate is taken from sand and peat. The pot must be covered with a piece of glass or placed under a plastic wrap, this will allow it to withstand high humidity. Seedlings will appear in 5-7 days. After the development of a pair of real leaves, the seedlings are picked in separate pots. Such plants will begin to bloom only 3-4 years after planting, when their nodules grow to the required size.
If you need to get seeds from home gloriosa, then self-pollination is carried out with a brush. It is required to transfer pollen from the anther to the stigma, then at the end of flowering a pod will ripen, inside which red seeds are formed.
Difficulties in growing gloriosa
Of the problems that arise when caring for the "lily of glory", one can single out:
- if there is a lack of light or the tuber has been damaged, as well as if it is stored incorrectly, gloriosa grows very slowly and does not bloom at all;
- with low humidity or insufficient watering, the leaf plates turn yellow or turn brown;
- in case of sudden temperature changes, young shoots slow down their growth, and the leaves become dark and droop;
- when the soil is flooded and the tubers subsequently rot, the stems of the plant soften and look lethargic, the leaves droop and turn yellow at the base;
- if the stem was broken or damaged, then the plant begins to grow tubers, but not the leaf mass.
The scabbard or aphid are considered harmful insects that infect gloriasis. Because of them, the leaves turn yellow, deform and become covered on the reverse side with brownish-brown plaques or sugary bloom. It is required for pest control to carry out an insecticidal treatment.
If the growing conditions are violated, then the plant is sometimes affected by powdery mildew, while treatment is carried out with drugs such as "Fundazol", "Topaz" and "Amira" or similar with a similar effect.
Interesting facts about gloriasis
Gloriosa superba is the national flower of the state of Zimbabwe and is protected there. In 1947, when Elizabeth II, being the heir to the English throne, arrived on a visit to this country (now this land bears the name of Rhodesia), she received a diamond brooch with the outline of this flower as a gift.
Also, glorylose is considered its symbol in the state of Tamil Nadu, located in Indian territory, and the same flower is the national plant of Tamil Eelam.
Attention!!! All parts of the "lily of glory", and especially the tubers of the plant, are very poisonous if taken internally. Therefore, it is necessary to keep them out of the reach of small children and pets. Gloriosa contains the alkaloid colchicine, which saturates both seeds and roots in large quantities. Death can occur when taking only 6 mg of this substance. In the lands where this "lily of flame" grows, namely among African tribal peoples, it is considered a symbol of brave warriors, therefore it bears its beautiful name.
In Australia, gloriosa grows in dry sclerophilous forests (eucalyptus and hard-leaved), located in coastal areas and on sand dunes, which are abundant in southeast Queensland, as well as in New South Wales. Interestingly, in Australia itself, the "fire lily" was recognized as one of the dangerous invasive weeds (a plant that was transferred from another area, but took root well and bred in large numbers). Gloriosa became the dominant species of flora on the sand dunes and began to displace all native varieties from there. Due to the strong toxicity of the plant and its wide distribution, the number of deaths among the representatives of the local animal world is rapidly growing.
In India, the "lily of glory" has spread widely in the areas of the Western Ghats, but its number is rapidly decreasing, since it is customary to collect the flower for many recipes of folk healers.
Gloriosa species
Gloriosa luxurious (Gloriosa superba). It can be found under the following synonymous names - Clinostylis speciosa, Gloriosa abyssinica, Gloriosa homles and many others. Its native habitat is in Africa, where a tropical climate prevails, in humid and monsoon forests. It can be found in the regions of the northern part of the Transvaal, as well as in India, on the lands of Nepal, the Malabar coast, including the island of Ceylon. Growth height sometimes reaches 1500 meters above sea level.
Shoots are quite long, their size does not exceed 1.5–2 meters. The leaf plates are arranged alternately or in whorls of three pieces, annular, their shape is oblong-lanceolate, at the top of the leaf ends in an unbranched tendril with filiform outlines, through which the vine shoots cling to other nearby plants or protrusions. Its length is measured 8-10 cm, at the base, the width reaches 2-3 cm. The surface of the sheet is glossy.
The perianth has the shape of a corolla and contains 6 leaves. The length of each can be 5–8 cm with a width of up to 2.5 cm. They have a pointed top, wavy edge, yellow at the base, and with height it acquires a cinnabar color. There are 6 stamens, they are located horizontally, outstretched. The flowering process occurs during all summer months.
There is a variety of large-flowered Gloriosa (Gloriosa superba var. Grandiflota) and yellow (Gloriosa superba var. Lutea) - with thin petals of a pure yellow tone.
Gloriosa Rothschild (Gloriosa rothschildiana). Can be found in literary sources under the name Gloriosa superba. The native lands of growth are in Uganda, which is located in the heart of the tropics of the African continent. The flowers of this variety are considered the national floral emblem of the state of Zambia.
The shoots of the plant are highly branchy, but it does not start from the base, where the branches are straight, but closer to the top. The lanceolate leaf plates are about 8 cm long. The flowers are located in the leaf axils and grow singly. The peduncle is about 10 cm high.
The perianth is made up of leaves with a bright crimson or dark red tint, in the lower part at the base they are covered with purple specks. The edge, they have a strongly corrugated, there is a bend back. In shape, the leaves are lanceolate, oblong, reaching 10 cm in length. The flowering process takes place in the summer. A variety of lemon yellow Gloriosa (Gloriosa rothschildiana var. Citrina) is grown in culture, in which the flower petals are respectively lemon yellow at the base with a dark red pattern.
Gloriosa simplex may also carry the synonymous name Gloriosa superba. The distribution environment falls on the lands of tropical Africa, namely in gallery and humid forests. Shoots can be measured in lengths up to 1.5 meters. Leaf plates with lanceolate contours, can reach 6–8 cm in length. The flowers are in the leaf axils, their petals are slightly wavy, the surface is smooth, the length ranges from 3–5 cm, but at the base the width is up to 3 cm. them without a bend, the color is yellowish-green, with yellow and red colors. The bloom is profuse and takes place during the summer months.
See more about the features of Rothschild gloriosa:
