Urceolina


Urceolina is a genus of South American plants in the amaryllis family native to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, and Peru. It has also been introduced to many South and Central American states, as well as India and Sri Lanka. The formerly accepted genera Eucharis and Caliphruria are now regarded as synonyms of this genus. Many species of this genus share the common name Amazon lily.

Taxonomy

In 1821, William Herbert published the genus name Urceolaria and transferred Crinum urceolatum to the genus as Urceolaria pendula. However, Herbert's name was illegitimate since the genus name had already been published in 1786 when it was attributed to Juan [Ignacio Molina]. In 1828, Ludwig Reichenbach used the name Urceolina for the genus. This is now a conserved name with the type species being Urceolina urceolata based on Crinum urceolatum.

Phylogeny

Urceolina is placed in the tribe Eucharideae. Eucharis, whose flower has a conspicuous staminal cup, and Caliphruria, whose staminal cup is heavily reduced, were formerly regarded as separate genera within the tribe. A 2020 molecular phylogenetic study showed that these two genera form a monophyletic clade with Urceolina sensu stricto, sister to Stenomesson:
The clade showed extensive ancestral reticulation. The authors of the study placed all the species belonging to the clade in an expanded Urceolina.

Species

Species of the former genera Eucharis and Caliphruria as well as Eucrosia dodsonii have been transferred to this genus. Therefore, Urceolina includes the following species:
Many of the species of the genus are endangered. For example, Urceolina hartwegiana and U. subedentata are threatened by extinction, and U. tenera is listed as extinct.

Cultivation and uses

Urceolina amazonica, U. × grandiflora, and U. subedentata are the best-known and most generally cultivated species. It is propagated by removing the offsets, which may be done in spring, potting them singly in 15 cm pots. It requires good loamy soil, with enough sand to keep the compost open, and should have a good supply of water. A temperature of 18° to 20 °C during the night, and rising to 25 °C in the day. During summer growth is to be encouraged by repotting, but the plants should afterwards be slightly rested by removal to a night temperature of about 15 °C, water being withheld for a time, though they must not be left dry for too long, the plant being an evergreen. By the turn of the year they may again have more heat and more water, and this will probably induce them to flower. With a stock of the smaller plants to start them in succession, it is possible to have plants in flower all the year round.