Tecophilaea


Tecophilaea is a genus of cormous plants in the family Tecophilaeaceae. There are two known species, both native to southern South America.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Tecophilaea are perennial, cormous herbs

Generative characteristics

The trilocular capsule fruit bears many seeds.

Taxonomy

It was validly published by Luigi [Aloysius Colla] in 1836 based on previous work by Carlo Luigi [Giuseppe Bertero]. The type species is Tecophilaea violiflora. It is the type genus of its family Tecophilaeaceae

Etymology

The genus Tecophilaea was named after the botanical artist Tecophila Billotti, the daughter of the Italian botanist Luigi Aloysius Colla, who published the genus.

Species

Species
ImageScientific nameDistribution
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus Santiago Province in Chile
Tecophilaea violiflora Lima Province in Peru, Coquimbo + Santiago Provinces in Chile

Conservation

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus was believed to be extinct in the wild, but was rediscovered in 2001.

Distribution

It is endemic to Peru and Chile.