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Eremurus

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|taxon = Eremurus

|image = Eremurus himalaicus2C2000.jpg

|image_caption = Eremurus himalaicus

|synonyms_ref=

|synonyms=*Ammolirion Kar. & Kir.

  • Henningia Kar. & Kir.
  • Selonia Regel

|type_species = Eremurus spectabilis

}}

Eremurus {{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɛr|ᵻ|ˈ|m|jʊər|ə|s}}Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607 is a genus of deciduous perennial flowers in the family Asphodelaceae. They are also known as the foxtail lilies or desert candles. They are native to eastern Europe in (Russia and Ukraine), and temperate Asia from Turkey to China, with many species in Central Asia.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=111968 Flora of China Vol. 24 Page 159 独尾草属 du wei cao shu Eremurus Marschall von Bieberstein, Fl. Taur.-Caucas. 3: 269. 1819]

The inflorescence consists of a tall floral spike whose individual flowers extend their anthers around the stem axis as in the bottle brushes. Depending on the species, the spike consists of many densely-arranged, small flowers in shades of orange, yellow, white, pale pink or red-orange. The grey-green, straplike leaves grow in a tuft from the succulent root crown. Eremurus is known for its thick, fingerlike roots, which grow from a central growth point. The blooming spike is notably tall and relatively narrow, rising from 3 to 9 or 10 feet above the foliage, depending on the species. These plants are mainly native to western and Central Asia, although Eremurus thiodanthus is endemic to the Crimea.{{Cite web |url=http://www.botany.com/eremurus.html |title=Botany.com: Eremurus |access-date=2008-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720032643/http://www.botany.com/eremurus.html |archive-date=2008-07-20 |url-status=dead }}

Species

{{As of|2023|November}}, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:{{Cite POWO|title=Eremurus M.Bieb..|id=24236-1|access-date=2023-11-08|mode=cs1}}

Cultivation

Eremurus is hardy to USDA Zones 5–7. Usually four species are available commercially for cultivation:

  • E. himalaicus grows to about {{convert|4 |ft|m|abbr=on}} with pure white racemes
  • E. robustus can reach {{convert|8-10 |ft|m|abbr=on}} in height with pink or white flower spikes
  • E. stenophyllus, a dwarf species, reaches {{convert|2-3 |ft|m|abbr=on}} in height with yellow flowers.

Also E. × isabellinus which is a hybrid of E. olgae and E. stenophyllus is available as 'Cleopatra', with orange spikes.{{sfn|CBG|2017}}

The cultivar 'Joanna' has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/211693/Eremurus-Joanna/Details | title = Eremurus 'Joanna' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 7 June 2020}}

The octopus-like tuberous roots are easily injured; planting on a cone of soil, with the crown on the peak and the roots hanging down, is recommended. Plants are readily affected by winter root rot, so that a layer of sand or gravel beneath is recommended to ensure drainage. Covering with compost or mulch provides protection from frost.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mrsgreenfingers.co.uk/eremus.htm |title=Mrs Greenfingers: How to Grow Eremurus |access-date=2008-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004133717/http://www.mrsgreenfingers.co.uk/eremus.htm |archive-date=2011-10-04 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Eremurus |title=Love to Know Garden: Eremurus |access-date=2008-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625071538/http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Eremurus |archive-date=2008-06-25 |url-status=dead }}

Gallery

File:Eremurus robustus shoots in snow. Image by Schnobby, cropped & brightened.jpg|E. robustus leaf rosettes, in bud, emerging from snowy ground

File:Eremurus robustus 2017-04-17 7791.jpg|E. robustus leaf rosette at time of first appearance of embryonic flower spike

File:Eremurus robustus (Asphodelaceae) (44492387882).jpg|E. robustus flowering on SW slope of Fergana range, nr. Sary-Kyr pass, Kyrgyzstan

File:Eremurus inderiensis 28519526.jpg|E. inderiensis developing flower spike starting to elongate, nr. Baikonur, Kazakhstan

File:Eremurus alaicus (5546699412).jpg|E. alaicus flowering on a grassy slope near Karakol, Kyrgyzstan in the Tien Shan range

File:Mountain rivers of Tajikistan 05.jpg|Stand of yellow-flowered E. sp. in bloom in April in a mountain river valley, Tajikistan

File:PikiWiki Israel 7032 Plants of Israel.jpg|E. sp. (probably E. spectabilis) in flower and fruit on a dry slope in Israel

File:Еремурусовий схил 02.jpg|E. sp. - stand of plants in fruit, nature reserve, Luhansk Oblast Ukraine

File:Շրեշտ.jpg|Young Eremurus leaf rosettes on sale as a leaf vegetable in an Armenian marketplace

File:Hyles centralasiae (Sphingidae- Macroglossinae- Macroglossini) – third instar larva on Eremurus olgae (32408511714).jpg|Close-up of flower buds of E. olgae with hawk moth larva

File:Satyrium (Superflua) mirabilis (Lycaenidae- Theclinae) mating on Eremurus sogdianus (Asphodelaceae) (33041236702).jpg|Satyrium mirabilis (see Satyrium) butterflies mating on E. sogdianus

File:Wave Hill - 20220616 - 28 - bumblebee pollinating foxtail lily.jpg|Bumblebee sp. pollinating flowers of E. stenophyllus var. stenophyllus in Wave Hill garden, Bronx

File:Eremurus himalaicus Pustynnik himalajski 2010-06-20 02.jpg|E. himalaicus ripening 3-valved seed capsule

File:Stamps of Uzbekistan, 2002-04.jpg|Uzbek postage stamp depicting E. hilariae (one of series devoted to the wildflowers of Uzbekistan)

File:Stamps of Uzbekistan, 2011-08.jpg|Uzbek postage stamp depicting
E. korolkowii

File:HJElwes Eremurus.jpg|Plant hunter Henry John Elwes beside bed of E. aitchisonii, formerly named for him as E. elwesii /
elwesianus

References

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Bibliography

{{Commons category}}

{{Refbegin}}

  • {{cite web|title=Eremurus|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=919|website=Advice|publisher=Royal Horticultural Society|access-date=9 October 2017|date=2017}}
  • {{cite web|last1=|first1=|title=Eremurus|url=https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/foxtail_lily|website=Plant information|publisher=Chicago Botanic Garden|access-date=8 October 2017|date=2017|ref={{harvid|CBG|2017}}}}
  • {{cite web|title=Eremurus|url=http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Eremurus|publisher=Pacific Bulb Society|access-date=9 October 2017|date=30 January 2014|ref={{harvid|PBS|2014}}}}

{{Refend}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q594627}}

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Category:Asphodelaceae genera

Category:Asphodeloideae