Eucomis L'Hér.

Pineapple Lily

Greek eu – well-marked or good, comans – head or tuft of hair, referring to the tuft of leaves at the apex of the inflorescence.

Perennial, bulbous herb, bulb tunicate, shiny. Leaves basal, strap-like, broadly ovate, glossy. Flowers radially symmetrical, stalked, individual flower stalks not articulated. Inflorescence a dense terminal raceme exceeding the leaves, topped with a tuft of leaf-like bracts. Tepals 3+3, 1-nerved, basally united, spreading. Stamens 6, attached to the lobe bases. Ovary superior. Fruit an inflated, membranous capsule. Seeds ovoid-rounded, brown or black.

Grown as a frost-tender ornamentals in full sun to light shade on well-drained soils. Hybrids are occasionally encountered.

About 10 species from tropical to southern Africa.

Bulb with the inflorescence topped with a head of leafy bracts resembling a pineapple.

Compton (1990).

Source: Forster, P. (2005). Drimiopsis. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Lilianae
order      Asparagales
family       Asparagaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Eucomis comosa (Houtt.) Wehrh.