Bulbous flowers. Succulents 150 species

Author: Xue Congxian (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: Bulbous flowers are a type of perennial herbaceous flowering plant characterized by particularly roots and stems, which are bulbous or spherical in shape and can store nutrients to support germination and blooming. Based on the shape and location of the parts, they can be divided into bulbs (e.g., lilies, amaryllis, narcissus, lily of the valley), corms (e.g., gladioli, saffron, freesia), tubers (e.g., Impatiens walleriana, Caladium, Phalaenopsis), root tubers (e.g., dahlias, orchids), and rhizomes (e.g., cannas, ginger lilies).
Bulbous flowers can be classified into temperate or tropical varieties based on their native growing regions. Temperate varieties prefer cool and mild climates (e.g., tulips, hyacinths, narcissus), and in southern China, it is difficult to cultivate blooming bulbs, so they are annually imported from other regions and grown for a short period before blooming. Tropical varieties (e.g., frangipani, lily of the valley, cannas) thrive year-round in southern China.
All bulbous flowers share a common long-term drought-resistant habit—dormancy. The duration of dormancy varies by variety, lasting approximately 30 to 90 days. During dormancy, stems and leaves wither and die, storing nutrients in the underground bulbs. However, some varieties only halt growth during dormancy without significant wilting (e.g., amaryllis, daylilies, freesia). In cultivation, low-temperature cold storage is often used to break dormancy and promote uniform blooming.
Succulent plants are defined as plants with thick, fleshy, and drought-tolerant stems and leaves. Most succulent plants are native to arid desert regions, where they have adapted to harsh environments by gradually reducing leaf size or developing thick, water-storing leaves. As a result, they are highly drought-resistant and require dry conditions during cultivation, with infrequent watering.