Leaf rosette of a giant Himalayan lily (Cardiocrinum giganteum) in a garden in Norfolk, UK, in April. The picture shows a whorl of developing leaves encasing at their centre a developing inflorescence. At this stage of growth, the leaves have a marked purple hue to their veins. C. giganteum is a member of the Liliaceae, and a native of the Himalayas, NW Burma and SW China. It is a monocarpic perennial which slowly produces a large bulb. After flowering, this bulb dies, leaving offsets, that can be grown on. It requires a cool moist site in moderate shade for successful growth as a garden plant. The rosette in this picture has developed from a bulb that has finally reached flowering size after 6 years from seed, and is on a short stem of 30cm. The stem will eventually expand to about 2m in height. |