Tricyrtis


Tricyrtis is a genus of Asian flowering plants in the lily family, with approximately 20 known species. The species are commonly known in English as toad lilies. The genus has a native range from the Himalayas to eastern Asia, including China, Japan, Philippines and Taiwan, and a few species are cultivated for their ornamental qualities in other parts of the world.

Description

Tricyrtis are herbaceous perennials with creeping rhizomes. The stems are typically erect or maybe ascending, and sometimes branched from the middle to the top. The subsessile leaves are arranged alternately along the stems. The inflorescences are most commonly thyrse or thyrsoid, or rarely the flowers are arranged into a raceme. The showy, solitary flowers are bisexual. Perianth campanulate or trumpet-shaped with six free tepals arranged into two whorls: the outer whorl has nectar secreting pouches, while the inner whorl has upright tepals with dorsal crests. The tepals are white or yellow with purplish spots, usually recurved or reflexed. The six stamens are inserted at base of the tepals, and the filaments are slightly flattened, forming a short tube. The anthers are dorsifixed. The three-loculed ovary have many ovules per locule. The styles are arranged into a column. The three-angled fruits are broadly cylindrical capsules and when ripe release many small, flat, ovate to orbicular shaped seeds.

Taxonomy

The genus is subdivided into four sections, with about 20 species. Accepted species include:
SectionsImageScientific nameDistribution
BrachycyrtisTricyrtis ishiiana Ohwi & OkuyamaHonshu Island in Japan
BrachycyrtisTricyrtis macrantha Maxim.Shikoku Island in Japan
BrachycyrtisTricyrtis macranthopsis Masam.Kii Peninsula in Japan
FlavaeTricyrtis flava MaximKyushu Island in Japan
FlavaeTricyrtis nana YatabeJapan
FlavaeTricyrtis ohsumiensis Masam.Kyushu Island in Japan
FlavaeTricyrtis perfoliata Masam.Kyushu Island in Japan
HirtaeTricyrtis formosana BakerTaiwan, Nansei-shoto
HirtaeTricyrtis hirta Hook.Japan
HirtaeTricyrtis lasiocarpa Matsum.Taiwan
TricyrtisTricyrtis affinis MakinoJapan
TricyrtisTricyrtis chinensis Hiroshi TakahashiChina
TricyrtisTricyrtis dilatata NakaiSouth Korea
TricyrtisTricyrtis imeldae GuthnickMindanao Island in Philippines
TricyrtisTricyrtis latifolia Maxim.Japan
TricyrtisTricyrtis macropoda Miq.Japan
TricyrtisTricyrtis maculata J.F.Macbr.Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam, Myanmar, China
TricyrtisTricyrtis puberula Nakai & Kitag.China
TricyrtisTricyrtis setouchiensis Hir.Takah.Honshu + Shikoku Islands in Japan
TricyrtisTricyrtis suzukii Masam.Taiwan

Cultivation

Tricyrtis species are perennial herbaceous plants that grow at the edge of forests. They prefer shade or part shade and rich, moist soil. Toad Lilies bloom in summer to fall. They are hardy enough to handle sudden changes of winter from mild to blustery cold.