Species of flowering plant
Babiana stricta, the baboon flower[1] or blue freesia,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae, native to Cape Province, South Africa and naturalized in Australia.[3]
Description
Growing 10–30 cm (4–12 in) tall by 5 cm (2 in) broad, it is a cormous perennial with hairy leaves 4–12 cm (2–5 in) long.[4] The leaves show linear venation. It is a bulb-like plant that produces upright fans of pleated, slightly hairy, and sword-shaped 6 inch leaves. The leaves emerge in mid-winter and are followed by short spikes with blue or purple cup-shaped flowers in the spring. The flowers usually bloom for 3 or 4 weeks, after that, the leaves and flowers die.[5]
The specific epithet stricta means "erect, upright".[6]
Cultivation
There are many hybrids and cultivars with different colored flowers, usually blue or pink with white additions. In mid- to late spring, each flowering stem produces six or more blooms, each to 5 cm (2 in) across. They are grouped in an inflorescence and often have a pleasant lemon scent. The seeds are black with a hard coat, collected in round seed capsules.[7]
Babiana stricta is tender (USDA Zones 8–10)[8] and in temperate zones is planted in containers and stored in winter at 5 °C (41 °F).[9]
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2]
References
External links
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| Babiana stricta | |
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| Gladiolus strictus | |
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