Plants of this genus grow from a cluster oftubers. They send up fertile and sterile stems, the fertile stems of some species reaching 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) in height. The leaves are alternately arranged andresupinate, twisted on thepetioles so that the undersides face up. The leaves are variable in shape and the blades have smooth edges. The flowers are solitary or borne inumbels. The flower has sixpetals each up to 5 centimeters (2.0 inches) long. They come in many shades of red, orange, yellow, green, purple, pink, and white, flecked and striped and streaked with darker colors. There are six curvingstamens. Thestigma has three lobes. The fruit is acapsule with three valves. Alstroemeria are classified as an inferior monocot, meaning the petals are located above theovary and the leaf veins are parallel.[3]
AnAlstroemeria cultivar
Alstroemeria capsule viewed from above, showing anatomical detail, including apical beak,vascular bundles (in section) in ribs etc.
Alstroemeria seed capsule viewed from side, showing winged ribs and (triangular pyramidal) apical beak.
The genusAlstroemeria is exclusively native to South America, with various species found ranging fromVenezuela (3° north of the Equator), toTierra del Fuego,Argentina (53° South).[4] Within this range of the entire genus, two centers of species diversity are recognized, one in Brazil and one in Chile.[5]
InChile,Alstroemeria is amongst the most diverse genera of vascularmonocotyledons, with more than 50 recognized or accepted taxa (species, subspecies and varieties). Of these taxa, roughly 80% are endemic to the Mediterranean matorral zone ofcentral Chile.[5]
In Brazil, which is home to more than 40 species, mostAlstroemeria species are found outside of the Amazonian region, and are concentrated towards the south and east of the country.Alstroemeria can be found in almost all types of habitat, from forests to savannahs,caatingas to swamps, and commonly, high altitude grasslands and rocky outcrops, with typical altitudes ranging from 300m in the Amazon, to 2300m in theItatiaia National Park. Most Brazilian species have relatively restricted distributions.[6]
Manyhybrids and at least 190cultivars have been developed, featuring many markings and colors, including white, yellow, orange, apricot, pink, red, purple, and lavender. The most popular and showy hybrids commonly grown today result from crosses between species from Chile (winter-growing) with species from Brazil (summer-growing). This strategy has overcome the florists' problem of seasonal dormancy and resulted in plants that areevergreen, or nearly so, and flower for most of the year. This breeding work derives mainly from trials that began in the United States in the 1980s; the main breeding is done nowadays by companies in the Netherlands. The flower, which resembles a miniature lily, is very popular for bouquets and flower arrangements in the commercial cutflower trade. These delicate flowers survive up to 14 days in water without any signs of shrivelling.[8]
Most cultivars available for the home garden will bloom in the late spring and early summer. The roots are hardy to a temperature of 23 °F (−5 °C). The plant requires at least six hours of morning sunlight, regular water, and well-drained soil.
The following cultivars have gained theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit, all with a hardiness rating of H4 (Hardy – average winter −10 to −5 °C (14 to 23 °F)) apart from 'Friendship' (H5: Hardy – cold winter −15 to −10 °C (5 to 14 °F)):
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