Albuca

Albuca is a genus of owering plants in the family

Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae.[2] The genus is distributed mainly in southern and eastern Africa, with some
species occurring in northern Africa and the Arabian
Peninsula.[3] Plants of the genus are known commonly as
slime lilies.[4]

buca, have also been lumped together in Ornithogalum at

times, but molecular phylogenetics studies support their
separation.[8]

2.1 Species
The genus, dened broadly, contains about 160 accepted
species, according to the World Checklist of Selected
Plant Families as of August 2014.[1]

Description

These are perennial herbs growing from bulbs. The stem

is sheathed in leaves with linear to strap-shaped blades.[5]
They can be 8 centimeters to well over one meter long
and are at or keeled. They are generally eshy and sappy
with a mucilaginous juice that inspired the common name
slime lilies.[6] The owers of some species are scented,
especially at night. They are borne in racemes, usually
slender, but at-topped in some species. The owers may
be on sti, or slender, nodding stalks,[6] held erect or
drooping. The six tepals are white to yellow and each
has a green or brown stripe down the center. The outer
three tepals spread open, while the inner three are connivent, curving inward so that the tips meet.[5] There are
six stamens, which have wings at the bases that wrap
around the ovary at the center of the ower. Some species
have six fertile stamens, and in others the outer stamens
are staminodes which do not produce pollen.[4] The fruit
is a rounded or oval three-lobed capsule containing shiny
black seeds.[5]

Albuca abyssinica Jacq. Tropical & S. Africa, S.W.

Arabian Peninsula
Albuca acuminata Baker Namibia to W. Cape
Province
Albuca adlami Baker Northern Province ?
Albuca albucoides (Aiton) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
S.W. Cape Province
Albuca amboensis (Schinz) Oberm. Namibia to
Botswana
Albuca amoena (Batt.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
N.W. Sahara
Albuca anisocrispa Mart.-Azorn & M.B.Crespo E.
Cape Province
Albuca annulata Mart.-Azorn & M.B.Crespo Eastern Cape Province

The three inner tepals can be closed rmly, raising the

question of how pollinators might reach the stigma inside
to deposit pollen.[4] In a study of the interaction between
pollinators and Albuca owers, leafcutter bees were observed prying open the tepals and squeezing through to
obtain the nectar inside. In the process, they left pollen on
the tips of the tepals, where it absorbed uid, germinated,
and fertilized ovules. This was the rst known case of
ower petals performing the function of the stigma.[4]

Albuca arenosa J.C.Manning & Goldblatt W. Cape

Province
Albuca aurea Jacq. S.W. Cape Province
Albuca autumnula (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.Doblies) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt S.W. Cape
Province
Albuca bakeri Mart.-Azorn & M.B.Crespo S. Cape
Province

Systematics

Albuca barbata (Jacq.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

Cape Province

The genus is circumscribed in two ways. The traditional

genus Albuca is a monophyletic group of about 60 known
species,[7] and possibly about 100 in total.[8] Other authorities have considered Albuca in a wider sense, including such genera as Stellarioides, Coilonox, Trimelopter,
and Battandiera, for a total of 110 to 180 very heterogeneous species.[3] All of these genera, including Al-

Albuca batteniana Hilliard & B.L.Burtt S. Cape

Province wild coast albuca[9]
Albuca bifolia Baker S. Cape Province
Albuca bifoliata R.A.Dyer S. Cape Province
1

2 SYSTEMATICS
Albuca boucheri U.Mll.-Doblies S.W. Cape
Province

Albuca decipiens U.Mll.-Doblies W. Cape

Province

Albuca bracteata (Thunb.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

E. Cape Province to KwaZulu-Natal

Albuca deserticola J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

Namibia to N.W. Cape Province

Albuca bruce-bayeri
Province

Albuca dilucula (Oberm.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

Cape Province

U.Mll.-Doblies

Cape

Albuca buchananii Baker S. Tropical Africa

Albuca dinteri U.Mll.-Doblies Namibia

Albuca canadensis (L.) F.M.Leight. Cape Province

Albuca donaldsonii Rendle Ethiopia to Tanzania

Albuca candida (Oberm.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

Namibia

Albuca dyeri (Poelln.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Cape

Province

Albuca caudata Jacq. S.E. Cape Province

Albuca echinosperma U.Mll.-Doblies S.W. Cape

Province

Albuca chartacea (Mart.-Azorn, M.B.Crespo &

A.P.Dold) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Eastern Cape
Province

Albuca engleriana K.Krause & Dinter Namibia

Albuca chlorantha Welw. ex Baker Angola

Albuca etesiogaripensis U.Mll.-Doblies Namibia to

N.W. Cape Province

Albuca ciliaris U.Mll.-Doblies W. Cape Province

Albuca fastigiata Dryand. S. Cape Province

Albuca clanwilliamae-gloria U.Mll.-Doblies W.

Cape Province

Albuca brotunicata Gledhill & Oyewole Niger to

Cameroon

Albuca collina Baker S. Cape Province

Albuca accida Jacq. S.W. Cape Province

Albuca comosa (Welw. ex Baker) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Angola

Albuca foetida U.Mll.-Doblies S.W. Cape

Province

Albuca concordiana Baker Namibia to Cape

Province

Albuca fragrans Jacq. S.W. Cape Province

Albuca consanguinea (Kunth) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt S.W. Cape Province

Albuca cooperi Baker S.W. Cape Province
Albuca corymbosa Baker S. Cape Province
Albuca costatula (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.-Doblies)
J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Namibia
Albuca craibii (Mart.-Azorn, M.B.Crespo & A.P.Dold)
J.C.Manning & Goldblatt North-West Province
Albuca cremnophila van Jaarsv. & A.E.van Wyk S.
Cape Province

Albuca gageoides K.Krause Namibia

Albuca galeata Welw. ex Baker Angola
Albuca gariepensis J.C.Manning & Goldblatt N.
Cape Province
Albuca gentilii De Wild. Zare
Albuca gethylloides (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.Doblies) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt W. Cape
Province
Albuca glandulifera J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Namibia to N.W. Cape Province

Albuca crinifolia Baker KwaZulu-Natal

Albuca glandulosa Baker Cape Province

Albuca crispa J.C.Manning & Goldblatt S. Cape

Province to Free state

Albuca glauca Baker Northern Province

Albuca crudenii Archibald S. Cape Province

Albuca dalyae Baker S. Cape Province
Albuca darlingana U.Mll.-Doblies S.W. Cape
Province
Albuca deaconii van Jaarsv. KwaZulu-Natal

Albuca glaucifolia (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.Doblies) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt W. Cape

Province
Albuca goswinii U.Mll.-Doblies S.W. Cape
Province
Albuca grandis J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Western
Cape Province

2.1

Species

Albuca hallii U.Mll.-Doblies Namibia to W. Cape

Province

3
Albuca navicula U.Mll.-Doblies W. Cape Province

Albuca hereroensis Schinz Namibia

Albuca nelsonii N.E.Br. E. Cape Province to

KwaZulu-Natal Nelsons slime lily[10]

Albuca hesquaspoortensis U.Mll.-Doblies S.W.

Cape Province

Albuca nigritana (Baker) Troupin W. Tropical

Africa to Rwanda

Albuca homblei De Wild. Zare

Albuca obtusa J.C.Manning & Goldblatt W. Cape

Province

Albuca humilis Baker Free State to KwaZulu-Natal

Albuca juncifolia Baker S.W. Cape Province
Albuca

karachabpoortensis (U.Mll.-Doblies &

D.Mll.-Doblies) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt W. Cape
Province

Albuca osmynella (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.-Doblies)

J.C.Manning & Goldblatt W. Cape Province
Albuca ovata (Thunb.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Cape Province

Albuca karasbergensis Glover Namibia

Albuca papyracea J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Cape

Province

Albuca karooica U.Mll.-Doblies Namibia to Cape

Province

Albuca paradoxa Dinter Namibia to W. Cape

Province

Albuca katangensis De Wild. S. Zare

Albuca paucifolia (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.-Doblies)

J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Cape Province

Albuca kirkii (Baker) Brenan Kenya to S. Tropical

Africa
Albuca

kirstenii (J.C.Manning & Goldblatt)

J.C.Manning & Goldblatt S.W. Cape Province

Albuca knersvlaktensis (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.Doblies) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt S.W. Cape
Province

Albuca pearsonii (F.M.Leight.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Namibia to N.W. Cape Province
Albuca pendula B.Mathew S.W. Saudi Arabia
Albuca pendulina (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.-Doblies)
J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Namibia

Albuca kundelungensis De Wild. Zare

Albuca pentheri (Zahlbr.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

Cape Province

Albuca lebaensis (van Jaarsv.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

Angola

Albuca polyodontula (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.Doblies) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Namibia

Albuca leucantha U.Mll.-Doblies N.W. Cape

Province

Albuca polyphylla Baker S. Cape Province

Albuca longifolia Baker S. Cape Province

Albuca prasina (Ker Gawl.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

S. Africa

Albuca longipes Baker Cape Province

Albuca prolifera J.H.Wilson S. Cape Province

Albuca macowanii Baker S. Cape Province

Albuca psammophora (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.Doblies) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt W. Cape Province

Albuca malangensis Baker Angola

Albuca massonii Baker W. Cape Province

Albuca pseudobifolia Mart.-Azorn & M.B.Crespo

Eastern Cape Province

Albuca monarchos (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.Doblies) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt W. Cape

Province

Albuca pulchra (Schinz) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

Angola to Botswana

Albuca monophylla Baker Angola to Namibia

Albuca rautanenii (Schinz) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

Namibia

Albuca myogaloides Welw. ex Baker Angola

Albuca namaquensis Baker Namibia to Cape
Province

Albuca recurva (Oberm.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

Namibia

Albuca nana Schnland S. Cape Province

Albuca riebeekkasteelberganula U.Mll.-Doblies

S.W. Cape Province

Albuca nathoana (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.-Doblies)

J.C.Manning & Goldblatt W. Cape Province

Albuca robertsoniana U.Mll.-Doblies S.W. Cape

Province

CULTIVATION

Albuca rogersii Schnland S. Cape Province

Albuca tortuosa Baker E. Cape Province

Albuca roodeae (E.Phillips) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

Cape Province

Albuca

Albuca rupestris Hilliard & B.L.Burtt KwaZuluNatal

Albuca sabulosa (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.-Doblies)
J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Cape Province
Albuca scabrocostata (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.Doblies) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt W. Cape Province

toxicaria (C.Archer & R.H.Archer)

J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Namibia to Cape
Province

Albuca trachyphylla U.Mll.-Doblies N.W. Cape

Province
Albuca tubiformis (Oberm.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Namibia

Albuca scabromarginata De Wild. Zare

Albuca unifolia (Retz.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

Namibia to Free State

Albuca schinzii Baker Namibia

Albuca unifoliata G.D.Rowley W. Cape Province

Albuca schlechteri Baker Northern Cape Province

Albuca schoenlandii Baker S. Cape Province
Albuca secunda (Jacq.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Cape Province
Albuca seineri (Engl. & K.Krause) J.C.Manning &
Goldblatt S. Africa
Albuca semipedalis Baker Cape Province
Albuca setosa Jacq. Cape Province to KwaZuluNatal
Albuca shawii Baker S. Africa
Albuca somersetianum S. Cape Province
Albuca spiralis L.f. W. Cape Province
Albuca stapi (Schinz) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Namibia
Albuca steudneri Schweinf. & Engl. E. Sudan
Albuca strigosula (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.-Doblies)
J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Namibia
Albuca stuetzeliana (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.Doblies) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Namibia to N.W.
Cape Province
Albuca suaveolens (Jacq.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Namibia to Cape Province

Albuca variegata De Wild. Zare

Albuca villosa U.Mll.-Doblies S.W. Namibia to W.
Cape Province
Albuca virens (Lindl.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Eritrea to S. Africa
Albuca viscosa L.f. Namibia to W. Cape Province
Albuca vittata Ker Gawl. Cape Province
Albuca volubilis (H.Perrier) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
W. Madagascar
Albuca watermeyeri (L.Bolus) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Cape Province
Albuca weberlingiorum U.Mll.-Doblies Cape
Province
Albuca xanthocodon Hilliard & B.L.Burtt
Mpumalanga to S.E. Cape Province

Albuca yerburyi Ridl. Yemen

Albuca zebrina Baker W. Cape Province
Albuca zenkeri Engl. Cameroon

3 Cultivation

Albuca subglandulosa (U.Mll.-Doblies & D.Mll.Doblies) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt W. Cape Province The most popular species is Albuca nelsonii, which is evergreen and not frost-hardy. Such species are best suited
Albuca subspicata Baker Angola
to temperate areas, but can be grown in a conservatory
Albuca sudanica A.Chev. W. Tropical Africa to or greenhouse, or in a sheltered position if light frosts
Sahara and W. Sudan
might occur. However, some other species from alpine
or Karoo-like areas are fairly frost-resistant and may be
Albuca tenuifolia Baker S. Cape Province
deciduous, and accordingly can stand a good deal of frost
[11]
Albuca tenuis Knudtzon Central Ethiopia to Kenya once established. Some in fact are winter-owering.
As a rule they do well in full sun in light, free-draining
Albuca thermarum van Jaarsv. Cape Province
soil. Propagate from osets or seed.

References

[1] Search for Albuca", World Checklist of Selected Plant

Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 201508-20
[2] Stevens, P.F., Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Asparagales: Scilloideae
[3] Martnez-Azorn, M.; Crespo, M.B.; Dold, A.P. &
Barker, N.P. (2011), The identity of Albuca caudata Jacq. (Hyacinthaceae) and a description of a
new related species: A. bakeri", PhytoKeys, 5: 519,
doi:10.3897/phytokeys.5.1166
[4] Johnson, S.D.; Jrgens, A. & Kuhlmann, M. (2012), Pollination function transferred: modied tepals of Albuca
(Hyacinthaceae) serve as secondary stigmas, Annals of
Botany, 110 (3): 565572, doi:10.1093/aob/mcs114
[5] Albuca, Flora of Zimbabwe, retrieved 2013-10-11
[6] Manning, J. (2008), Field Guide to Fynbos, Cape Town:
Struik Publishers, ISBN 978-1-77007-265-7
[7] Martnez-Azorn, M.; Crespo, M.B.; Dold, A.P. &
Barker, N.P. (2011), "Albuca annulata sp. nov. (Hyacinthaceae) from the Albany Centre of Endemism, South
Africa (PDF), Nordic Journal of Botany, 29: 696699,
doi:10.1111/j.1756-1051.2011.01178.x, retrieved 201311-10
[8] Martnez-Azorn, M.; Crespo, M.B.; Juan, A. &
Fay, M.F. (2011), Molecular phylogenetics of subfamily Ornithogaloideae (Hyacinthaceae) based on nuclear and plastid DNA regions, including a new taxonomic arrangement, Ann. Bot., 107 (1): 137,
doi:10.1093/aob/mcq207
[9] Albuca batteniana, South African National Biodiversity
Institute (SANBI), retrieved 2013-11-10
[10] Albuca nelsonii, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), retrieved 2013-11-10
[11] Powrie, Fiona (1998), Grow South African Plants : A Gardeners Companion to Indigenous Plants, Claremont: National Botanical Institute, ISBN 978-1-919684-15-4

External links
Albuca. Red List of South African Plants. South
African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).
GRIN Species Records of Albuca. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).
Botanica Sistematica

Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G.

(2014).
[http://www.africanplants.senckenberg.
de/root/index.php?submitForm=true&
page_id=77&searchTextMenue=Albuca&

filterRegionIDs{[}{]}=6&filterRegionIDs{[}{]}=
1&filterRegionIDs{[}{]}=2&
filterRegionIDs{[}{]}=3&filterRegionIDs{[}{]}=
5 "Albuca"]. African plants a Photo Guide.
Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.

6 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

6.1

Text

Albuca Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albuca?oldid=701425108 Contributors: Bearcat, Rama, Hesperian, Vald, EncycloPetey,

RomanSpa, Lavateraguy, S Marshall, Marco Schmidt, Peter coxhead, StAnselm, ZooFari, Addbot, Flakinho, Yobot, Santryl, Rubinbot,
Glorioussandwich, Benchamas, RjwilmsiBot, EmausBot, JonRicheld, Helpful Pixie Bot, Sminthopsis84, Tortie tude, Stamptrader, Joseph
Laferriere and Anonymous: 3

6.2

Images

File:Red_Pencil_Icon.png Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Red_Pencil_Icon.png License: CC0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Peter coxhead

6.3

Content license

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