Acis valentina
Acis valentina is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to eastern Spain.[1] Its white flowers appear in autumn. It can be grown as an ornamental bulb, but may need protection from hard frost.
Acis valentina | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
Subfamily: | Amaryllidoideae |
Genus: | Acis |
Species: | A. valentina |
Binomial name | |
Acis valentina (Pau) Lledó, A.P.Davis & M.B.Crespo[1] | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
Acis valentina is usually no more than 12 cm tall. It flowers in the autumn, the thread-like leaves appearing after the flowers. Flowers may be solitary or in a group of two or three. The flower has six milky white tepals, 8–14 mm long, each with a sharp point at the apex (at least in the outer three). Acis valentina resembles the spring-flowering Acis nicaeense in several ways, including possessing a six-lobed disc at the base of the ovary.[2][3]
Taxonomy
Acis valentina was first described in 1914 by Carlos Pau, as Leucojum valentinum.[4] It was transferred to the genus Acis, along with other species of Leucojum, in 2004.[5] Its nearest relative appears to be Acis ionica, found in the Balkans.[6]
Distribution and habitat
The native distribution of Acis valentina is eastern Spain, north of Valencia.[1] It has also been recorded as occurring in the Ionian Islands of Greece;[3] however these plants are now assigned to Acis ionica.[6] It is found in rocky pastures.[2]
Cultivation
Acis valentina is cultivated as an autumn-flowering bulb, but may need protection, such as in an alpine house.[3]
References
- "Acis valentina", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2017-12-02
- Grey-Wilson, Christopher; Mathew, Brian & Blamey, Marjorie (1981), Bulbs : the bulbous plants of Europe and their allies, London: Collins, ISBN 978-0-00-219211-8, p. 136 (as Leucoium valentinum)
- Mathew, Brian (1987), The Smaller Bulbs, London: B.T. Batsford, ISBN 978-0-7134-4922-8, p. 121 (as Leucojum valentinum)
- "Plant Name Details for Leucojum valentinum Pau", The International Plant Names Index, retrieved 2017-12-02
- Lledó, Ma D.; Davis, A.P.; Crespo, M.B.; Chase, M.W.; Fay, M.F. (2004), "Phylogenetic analysis of Leucojum and Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae) based on plastid matK and nuclear ribosomal spacer (ITS) DNA sequences and morphology" (PDF), Plant Systematics and Evolution, 246 (3–4): 223–243, doi:10.1007/s00606-004-0152-0, retrieved 2017-12-04
- Bareka, Pepy; Kamari, Georgia & Phitos, Dimitrios (2006), "Acis ionica (Amaryllidaceae), a new species from the Ionian area (W Greece, S Albania)", Willdenowia, 36 (1): 357–366, doi:10.3372/wi.36.36131