Scientific Name

Ledebouria

socialis 

 

 

Common Name

Silver Squill

or

Cape Lilly

Taxonomy

Division: Anthophyta

Class: Liliopsida

SubClass: Liliidae

Order: Liliales

Family: Hyacinthaceae (Liliaceae)

Genus: Ledebouria

Species: socialis

Was formerly known as Scilla violacea H

Reference for Taxonomy:

Anonymous. 2001. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Conservatory. http://florawww.eeb.uconnn.edu/acc_num/198502883.html. Accessed 24 April 2001

Description

Rich purple swollen bulbs that are above ground and formed into clusters. Stems of the plant are a purple color. Leaves are about five per bulb. Each bulb is spotted green and silver, the under sides of the leaves are purple. Flowers are in a spike floresence and are a pale greenish-white with stripes of green.

Reference for Descriptive Information:

O'Hara, Sean A. Mediterranean climate gardening throughout the world. http://www.support.net/Medit-Plants/plants/Ledebouria.socialis.html Accessed 24 April 2001

Distribution and Habitat

Tropical mesic habitat

Native of South Africa

Cultural Information

Soil · Dry with high organic matter

Water requirement · Only requires water in dry summer conditions

Light · Bright, indirect sunlight.

Humidity · N/A

Temperature Mild, tropical climate

Other · Flowers in fall or winter

 

Reference for Cultural Information:

Frank, Thomas. Ledebouria social. http://www.hort.wisc.edu/Hort233Site/notes/Ledebouria%20socialis.html Accessed 24 April 2001.

Propagation Methods

Division: Since this plant grows in clusters of four to five, this plant can easily be propagated by division of the stem clusters.

Reference for Propagation Methods:

Frank, Thomas. Ledebouria social. http://www.hort.wisc.edu/Hort233Site/notes/Ledebouria%20socialis.html Accessed 24 April 2001.

Uses/ Fun Facts

 -- No real uses for this plant, usually a conservatory or house plant

-- Named after Carl Friedrich von Ledebour (Ledebouria)

-- Was originally named Scilla violacea, but plant taxonominists changed the name to Ledebouria socialis

 

Reference for Uses and Fun Facts:

O'Hara, Sean A. Mediterranean climate gardening throughout the world. http://www.support.net/Medit-Plants/plants/Ledebouria.socialis.html Accessed 24 April 2001

Frank, Thomas. Ledebouria social. http://www.hort.wisc.edu/Hort233Site/notes/Ledebouria%20socialis.html Accessed 24 April 2001

This page was developed by:

Chris Cecchini

W&J Class of 2001

 

Last revised on May 3, 2001