Freesia is a genus of herbaceous perennial flowering crops in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1866 by Chr. Fr. Echlon (1795-1868) and called after German botanist and doctor Friedrich Freese (1794-1878). It is native to the eastern area of southern Africa, from Kenya south to South Africa, most species being within Cape Provinces. Kinds of the previous genus Anomatheca are now contained in Freesia. The plant life commonly known as "freesias", with fragrant funnel-shaped blooms, are cultivated hybrids of lots of Freesia kinds. Some other kinds are also produced as ornamental crops.
They can be herbaceous plants which grow from a conical corm 1-2.5 cm size, which directs up a tuft of slim leaves 10-30 cm long, and a sparsely branched stem 10-40 cm tall bearing a few leaves and a loose one-sided spike of flowers with six tepals. Many kinds have fragrant narrowly funnel-shaped bouquets, although those formerly placed in the genus Anomatheca, such as F. laxa, have smooth flowers. Freesias are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera varieties including Large Yellow Underwing.
CULTIVATION AND USES
The plants usually called "freesias" are derived from crosses made in the 19th century between F. refracta and F. leichtlinii. Numerous cultivars have been bred from these varieties and the green- and yellow-flowered types of F. corymbosa. Modern tetraploid cultivars have blossoms ranging from white to yellow, pink, red and blue-mauve. They are really mostly cultivated expertly in holland by about 80 growers.[3] Freesias can be quickly increased from seed. Because of the specific and pleasing scent, they are generally used in side lotions, shampoos, candles, etc.[citation needed], however, the blooms are mainly used in wedding bouquets. They can be planted in the show up in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-10 (i.e. where in fact the temperature will not show up below about -7 ?C (20 ?F)), and in the spring and coil in Areas 4-8.
Freesia laxa (formerly called Lapeirousia laxa or Anomatheca cruenta) is one of the other types of the genus which is often cultivated. Smaller than the scented freesia cultivars, they have flat somewhat than cup-shaped flowers. Extensive 'forcing' of this bulb occurs in two Moon Bay in California where several growers chill the bulbs in proprietary methods to satisfy frigid dormancy which results in development of buds within the predicted volume of weeks - often 5 weeks at 55 ?F (13 ?C).
Herbaceous vegetation (in botanical use frequently simply natural herbs) are crops which have no persistent woody stem above floor. Herbaceous plant life may be annuals, biennials or perennials. Total annual herbaceous plants expire completely by the end of the growing season or when they have got flowered and fruited, and they then increase again from seed. Herbaceous perennial and biennial crops may have stems that pass away by the end of the growing season, but elements of the plant make it through under or near to the ground from season to season (for biennials, before next growing season, when they bloom and perish). New growth builds up from living cells staying on or under the bottom, including roots, a caudex (a thickened part of the stem at ground level) or numerous kinds of underground stems, such as bulbs, corms, stolons, rhizomes and tubers. Examples of herbaceous biennials include carrot, parsnip and common ragwort; herbaceous perennials include potato, peony, hosta, mint, most ferns & most grasses. By contrast, non-herbaceous perennial plants are woody vegetation that have stems above floor that stay alive through the dormant season and increase shoots the next season from the above-ground parts - these include trees, shrubs and vines.
Posy of the Week – 23rd January 2017 The Great British Florist
Freesia is a genus of herbaceous perennial flowering plant life in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1866 by Chr. Fr. Echlon (1795-1868) and called after German botanist and doctor Friedrich Freese (1794-1878). It is indigenous to the eastern part of southern Africa, from Kenya south to South Africa, most types being found in Cape Provinces. Varieties of the ex - genus Anomatheca are actually contained in Freesia. The crops commonly known as "freesias", with fragrant funnel-shaped flowers, are cultivated hybrids of lots of Freesia species. Some other types are also grown as ornamental plant life.
They are herbaceous plant life which increase from a conical corm 1-2.5 cm diameter, which transmits up a tuft of thin leaves 10-30 cm long, and a sparsely branched stem 10-40 cm large bearing a few leaves and a loose one-sided spike of bouquets with six tepals. Many types have fragrant narrowly funnel-shaped blooms, although those previously located in the genus Anomatheca, such as F. laxa, have level flowers. Freesias are being used as food crops by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Large Yellowish Underwing.
CULTIVATION AND USES
The vegetation usually called "freesias" derive from crosses manufactured in the 19th century between F. refracta and F. leichtlinii. Numerous cultivars have been bred from these species and the red- and yellow-flowered types of F. corymbosa. Modern tetraploid cultivars have bouquets ranging from white to yellowish, red, red and blue-mauve. These are mostly cultivated properly in holland by about 80 growers.[3] Freesias can be immediately increased from seed. Because of their specific and pleasing scent, they are generally used in hand ointments, shampoos, candles, etc.[citation needed], however, the blooms are mainly used in wedding bouquets. They can be planted in the fall season in USDA Hardiness Areas 9-10 (i.e. where the temperature will not fall season below about -7 ?C (20 ?F)), and in the springtime in Areas 4-8.
Freesia laxa (formerly called Lapeirousia laxa or Anomatheca cruenta) is one of the other varieties of the genus which is often cultivated. Smaller than the scented freesia cultivars, it includes flat alternatively than cup-shaped blossoms. Extensive 'forcing' of the bulb occurs in two Moon Bay in California where several growers chill the light bulbs in proprietary solutions to satisfy cold dormancy which results in development of buds within a predicted quantity of weeks - often 5 weeks at 55 ?F (13 ?C).
Herbaceous vegetation (in botanical use frequently simply herbal selections) are vegetation that have no persistent woody stem above floor. Herbaceous plant life may be annuals, biennials or perennials. Annual herbaceous plants die completely by the end of the growing season or when they have got flowered and fruited, plus they then increase again from seed. Herbaceous perennial and biennial vegetation may have stems that die at the end of the growing season, but parts of the plant make it through under or near to the bottom from season to season (for biennials, until the next growing season, when they blossom and pass away). New development grows from living tissues remaining on or under the bottom, including root base, a caudex (a thickened portion of the stem at ground level) or numerous kinds of underground stems, such as light bulbs, corms, stolons, rhizomes and tubers. Examples of herbaceous biennials include carrot, parsnip and common ragwort; herbaceous perennials include potato, peony, hosta, mint, most ferns and most grasses. By contrast, non-herbaceous perennial plants are woody plants which have stems above floor that stay alive during the dormant season and develop shoots another time from the above-ground parts - included in these are trees and shrubs, shrubs and vines.
