Roscoea scillifolia

Appearance

"Roscoea scillifolia" is a perennial herbaceous plant. Like all members of the genus "Roscoea", it grows from a short rhizome, to which the tuberous roots are attached. When growth begins again, "pseudostems" are produced: structures which resemble stems but are actually formed from the tightly wrapped bases of its leaves. "R. scillifolia" varies considerably in height, extreme forms being as short at 6 cm, with some plants up to 37 cm tall; most are between 10 and 27 cm. There are up to three bladeless sheathing leaves and one to five full leaves, again varying considerably in size. The blade of the leaf is typically 11–22 cm long by 1.5–2 cm wide. At the junction of the blade and sheath there are small transparent structures, 2–3 mm high.

The stem of the flower spike may or may not emerge from the leaf sheaths. A single flower is open at any one time. The flowers may be pale in colour or dark purple. Green bracts, 2.6–5 cm long subtend the flowers.

Each flower has the typical structure for "Roscoea". There is a tube-shaped outer calyx, about 1.5–2.3 cm long. Next the three petals form a tube about 1.6–3 cm long, almost entirely hidden within the calyx. The tube terminates in three petal lobes: an upright central lobe and two slightly shorter side lobes. The central lobe is about 1.4–2 cm long by 0.6–1 cm wide; the side lobes are somewhat smaller, 1.1–2 cm long by 0.4–0.7 cm wide. Inside the petals are structures formed from four sterile stamens. Two lateral staminodes form what appear to be small petals, about 1–1.4 cm long by 0.3–0.5 cm wide, including a short narrowed "claw" at the base. Two central staminodes are fused at the base to form a lip or labellum, about 1.3–2 cm long by 0.8–2 cm wide. The labellum varies in how far it is split at the end into two lobes. It typically has white lines at the base.

The single functional stamen has a white anther, about 5 mm long, and the typical "Roscoea" "spurs" on the filament. The triangular ovary is 1–1.5 cm long.

Naming

There are two named forms of the species. The nominate form, "R. scillifolia" f. "scillifolia" has pale flowers, usually pink or white. "R. scillifolia" f. "atropurpurea" has dark purple flowers, and a significantly longer floral tube and surrounding bract.

Distribution

According to Cowley, "Roscoea scillifolia" may be extinct in the wild, since it has not been seen in its native range since the early 1900s. It was found in a small region of Yunnan, China, particularly the mountains around Lijiang. It is now only known in cultivation.

Habitat

According to Cowley, "Roscoea scillifolia" may be extinct in the wild, since it has not been seen in its native range since the early 1900s. It was found in a small region of Yunnan, China, particularly the mountains around Lijiang. It is now only known in cultivation.