Growth and flowering of Ornithogalum saundersiae Bak

Abstract

The growth and flowering of Ornithogalum saundersiae Bak. was studied under field conditions in Kenya. This plant was found to be a perennial syanthous geophyte without a natural dormant period in Kenyan tropical conditions and to form a lateral inflorescence, and thus to grow as a monopodial plant. Number and/or size of bulblets/buds, leaves, inflorescences and total number of nodes in a bulb were found to be determined by the following factors: the size and age (mother or daughter bulbs) of bulb and stage of growth at which bulbs were lifted for subsequent planting. Comparisons of the relative position of each bulb constituent on various sizes of bulbs made it possible to determine the relative age, type and quality of a bulb. After growth and flowering was repeated for some cycles, this plant seemed to form a terminal inflorescence between two vegetative shoots which were found at the bulb apex. This was considered to be the final growth stage of the bulb.