''Caliphruria'' is a genus of herbaceous,

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wid ...

and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family ( Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae.) The four

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

grow in tropical areas of South America, with three

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to Colombia, but are rare in the wild. This genus is closely related with the genera '' Eucharis'' and ''

Urceolina ''Urceolina'' is a genus of South American plants in the amaryllis family, all native to Peru. It also occurs in other parts of South America. Species *''Urceolina ayacucensis'' Ravenna *''Urceolina cuzcoensis'' Vargas *''Urceolina fulva'' He ...

,'' all of them known colloquially as "Amazon Lilies".

Species

The list of ''Caliphruria'' species, with their complete scientific name and authority, is given below.Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
World Checklist of Monocotyledons: ''Caliphruria''
Accessed May 16, 2009. *†'' Caliphruria hartwegiana'' Herb., distributed in northwestern Colombia. *'' Caliphruria korsakoffii'' ( Traub) Meerow, from North Central

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

. ( syn.: ''Eucharis korsakoffii'' Traub.) *'' Caliphruria subedentata'' Baker, from northwestern Colombia. *†'' Caliphruria tenera'' Baker, from Colombia ( Cundinamarca).

Distribution and habitat

The genus is restricted in distribution to the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central of Colombia. The species of ''Caliphruria'' are rain forest

geophytes A storage organ is a part of a plant specifically modified for storage of energy (generally in the form of carbohydrates) or water. Storage organs often grow underground, where they are better protected from attack by herbivores. Plants that have ...

adapted to the low light conditions of the forest understory.

Conservation status

Many of the species of the genus are endangered. ''Caliphruria korsakoffii'', from Peru, is very infrequent; '' Caliphruria hartwegiana'' and '' Caliphruria subedentata'' are

threatened Threatened species are any species (including animals, plants and fungi) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future. Species that are threatened are sometimes characterised by the population dynamics measure of ''critical depensa ...

by extinction; and '' Caliphruria tenera'' is listed as extinct.

Uses

''Caliphruria korsakoffii'' and ''C. subedentata'' are cultivated as

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...

References

External links

Images of various species of ''Caliphruria'' from Pacific Bulb Society
Amaryllidoideae Amaryllidaceae genera Flora of South America {{Amaryllidaceae-stub