Asparagales

The flowers of Crocus rujanensis

Crocus rujanensis

Published by Daniel Mosquin on January 23, 2019

Scientifically described in 1990, Crocus rujanensis is native to southern Serbia and adjacent Macedonia in oak-hornbeam forests, mixed Hungarian-Turkey oakwoods, Dianthus meadows, degraded shrublands, and grasslands.

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Flowers of Hesperantha coccinea

Hesperantha coccinea

Published by Daniel Mosquin on November 2, 2018

Scarlet river lily and crimson flag lily are two of the many common names used for Hesperantha coccinea. This species was previously featured on Botany Photo of the Day in 2006: Hesperantha coccinea.

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The flower of Iris japonica

Iris japonica

Published by Daniel Mosquin on October 5, 2018

Aptly named “butterfly flower” in Chinese for its appearance, Iris japonica is native to Japan, Myanmar (Burma) and China. Other common names for this species include fringed iris and shaga.

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Flowers of Acianthus caudatus

Acianthus caudatus

Published by Daniel Mosquin on September 12, 2018

The aptly-named mayfly orchid is considered locally common in some parts of its native eastern Australia. That said, it is never so abundant as some species of its namesake: “The 2014 hatch of the large black-brown mayfly Hexagenia bilineata on the Mississippi River in the US was imaged on weather radar; the swarm flew up […]

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A white-flowered Arethusa bulbosa

Arethusa bulbosa

Published by Daniel Mosquin on July 26, 2018

Dragon’s mouth orchid, like several other orchid species, is subject to mutations in flower colour (including the lack of pigmentation). The pink-coloured flowers in the second photograph have the typical colouration.

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The inflorescence of Agapanthus 'PMN06'

Agapanthus ‘PMN06’

Published by Daniel Mosquin on July 12, 2018

Hybridized by the Brisbane-area plant breeders at Pine Mountain Nursery, Agapanthus ‘PMN06’ is better known by its commercial name, Agapanthus QUEEN MUM™. The goal with the breeding program was to generate an Agapanthus flower with bicoloured blue-and-white tepals.

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Flower of Sisyrinchium littorale

Sisyrinchium littorale

Published by Daniel Mosquin on July 5, 2018

A relative of irises, Sisyrinchium is composed of about 80 species primarily (and perhaps exclusively) native to the Americas and Hawaii. The Flora of North America entry for Sisyrinchium explains the name as follows: [Greek] sys, pig, and rynchos, snout, alluding to swine grubbing the roots for food.

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