Discussion

Agapanthus

Agapanthus is a genus of perennial flowering plants comprised of 6 to 10 species depending on which authority is being cited. The problem is that varying species are so similar that it is difficult to tell what the species boundaries are. All Agapanthus species originally came from southern Africa, though some have since become naturalized in other parts of the world.

The type species for Agapanthus, the species most associated with the genus, is Agapanthus africanus. It and some of the other Agapanthus species are commonly called Lily of the Nile. In the United Kingdom, it is known as the African Lily. Regardless of the common name, they are not true lilies.

Lilies of the Nile have clusters of blossoms at the top of bare stalks that grow two to three feet high above a base of narrow, leathery, dark green leaf clumps.

Some Agapanthus species have leaves that die out for part of the year, but Agapanthus africanus (Lily of the Nile) leaves stay green year-round. Blossoming begins early to mid-summer and sometimes last into early autumn.

There are two main varieties of Lilies of the Nile, Agapanthus africanus blue ...

... and Agapanthus africanus white.

As can be seen, Lilies of the Nile blossoms emerge from a single point, an umbel, at the top of a stalk. As many as 20 to 50 florets can grow from that single point. The sequence of photos below shows the growth sequence of Agapanthus africanus blossoms. The final image shows seed pods after petals have fallen away.

Each floret has six tepals, each with a slightly darker colored stripe down the middle. There are also six male stamen rising out from the middle. Here is a close look at them.

The anthers, the pollen-bearing dark-colored tips of the stamen, are dark blue in Agapanthus africanus blue and yellow in Agapanthus africanus white.

Here is a closer look at seed pods.

Seed pods take from 6 to 8 weeks to mature on the plant before drying out and opening up. These are a seed pods midway into the process and fully mature.

Initially, one Lily of the Nile floral stalk grows from one seed. After the plant is fully mature—2 to 3 years—it begins to propagate additional plants through a rhizome root system. A rhizome is an underground horizontal stem from which traditional roots, and eventually clones of the original plant, grow.

Lily of the Nile plants are mildly poisonous to humans and animals. It contains toxins that can cause gastrointestinal upset, and the sap can cause skin irritation. Native African cultures use Lilies of the Nile in traditional medicine to treat coughs, chest pains, heart disease, and paralysis. Its leaves are used as bandages to reduce fever and treat wounds due to anti-inflammatory properties.

Lilies of the Nile are very attractive in their native habitat.

They can be even more so in well-tended gardens.

Artwork

Tanigami Konan (1879 – 1928)

Not much is known about this early 20th century artist. His primary focus was on kachō-ga, pictures of birds and flowers. His best-known work was his Seiyo Soka Zufu (Pictorial Book of Western Flowers), the first edition of which was published in 1917. His Agapanthus Lily and Centrathus is from that book.