Asparagaceae

Bowiea Harv. ex T.Moore & Mast.

First published in Gard. Chron. 1866: 971 (1866)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is E. Tropical & S. Africa.

Descriptions

Stedje, B. & Kativu, S. (2023). Hyacinthaceae. In: M.A. García & B.F.P. Loeuille (eds), Flora Zambesiaca, Vol. 13(3). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Morphology General Habit
Perennial, bulbous herbs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence much branched, twining and climbing
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers whitish or yellow to green
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal
Tepals free, narrowly triangular with a rounded apex, reflexed or spreading, persistent and reflexed in fruit
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments
Filaments free
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary sessile, conical; capsule ellipsoid
Distribution
Only one species with two subspecies in East Africa S to South Africa and Namibia and one subspecies in the Flora area
Recognition
The genus differs from others in the Hyacinthaceae in the much branched inflorescence, a feature shared only with Schizobasis from which it can be distinguished by being taller, more than 50 cm high, and being climbing and twining, not hanging or prostrate.
[FZ]

Hyacinthaceae, Brita Stedje, Ph.D.. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1996

Morphology General Habit
Leaves 1-2, linear, perishing early
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence glabrous, much branched, twining and climbing, up to several m. long; bracts narrowly triangular with a short spur
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers pedicellate, white or yellow to green
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth-segments free, triangular with a rounded apex, reflexed or spreading, persistent and reflexed in fruit
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Filaments free, narrowly triangular to filiform; anthers oblong
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary sessile, conical with many ovules in each locule; style slender, persistent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule ellipsoid with a pointed apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds black and shiny, elongated and flattened or irregularly shaped.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0