Raffi at 20:02, 29 January 2008

2008-01-29T20:02:23Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Watsonia''
| image = Watsonia fulgens 4.jpg
| image_width = 200px
| image_caption = ''Watsonia fulgens''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Iridaceae]]
| genus = '''''Watsonia'''''
| genus_authority = Miller
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
52 species, including: 
''[[Watsonia aletroides]]'' 
''[[Watsonia amabilis]]'' 
''[[Watsonia amatolae]]'' 
''[[Watsonia angusta]]'' 
''[[Watsonia bachmannii]]'' 
''[[Watsonia bella]]'' 
''[[Watsonia borbonica]]'' 
''[[Watsonia canaliculata]]'' 
''[[Watsonia coccinea]]'' 
''[[Watsonia confusa]]'' 
''[[Watsonia densiflora]]'' 
''[[Watsonia distans]]'' 
''[[Watsonia dubia]]'' 
''[[Watsonia elsiae]]'' 
''[[Watsonia emiliae]]'' 
''[[Watsonia fergusoniae]]'' 
''[[Watsonia fourcadei]]'' 
''[[Watsonia galpinii]]'' 
''[[Watsonia gladioloides]]'' 
''[[Watsonia humilis]]'' 
''[[Watsonia hysterantha]]'' 
''[[Watsonia inclinata]]'' 
''[[Watsonia knysnana]]'' 
''[[Watsonia laccata]]'' 
''[[Watsonia latifolia]]'' 
''[[Watsonia lepida]]'' 
''[[Watsonia marginata]]'' 
''[[Watsonia marlothii]]'' 
''[[Watsonia meriana]]'' 
''[[Watsonia minima]]'' 
''[[Watsonia mtamvunae]]'' 
''[[Watsonia occulta]]'' 
''[[Watsonia paucifolia]]'' 
''[[Watsonia pillansii]]'' 
''[[Watsonia pondoensis]]'' 
''[[Watsonia pulchra]]'' 
''[[Watsonia rogersii]]'' 
''[[Watsonia rourkei]]'' 
''[[Watsonia schlechteri]]'' 
''[[Watsonia spectabilis]]'' 
''[[Watsonia stenosiphon]]'' 
''[[Watsonia stokoei]]'' 
''[[Watsonia strictiflora]]'' 
''[[Watsonia strubeniae]]'' 
''[[Watsonia tabularis]]'' 
''[[Watsonia transvaalensis]]'' 
''[[Watsonia vanderspuyiae]]'' 
''[[Watsonia versfeldii]]'' 
''[[Watsonia watsonioides]]'' 
''[[Watsonia wilmaniae]]'' 
''[[Watsonia wilmsii]]'' 
''[[Watsonia zeyheri]]'' 
}}

'''''Watsonia''''' (Bugle Lily) is a [[genus]] of [[plant]]s in the [[Iridaceae|iris]] family, subfamily Crocoideae, native to [[South Africa]]. The genus is named after [[William Watson (scientist)|Sir William Watson]], a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[botanist]].

There are 52 species in southern Africa; all are perennial herbs growing from corms and producing erect spikes of showy flowers, and are adapted to a mediterranean-type climate.

The most common species in cultivation is the pink-flowered ''[[Watsonia borbonica]]'' and its white mutant 'Arderne's White'. These were crossed with ''[[Watsonia meriana]]'' and other species in the early 20th century by breeders including [[John Cronin (Australia)|John Cronin]] in Australia and [[Luther Burbank]] in California to produce a wide range of cultivars. ''Watsonia'' has been eclipsed in popularity by ''[[Gladiolus]]'' and other bulbs, and is now neglected by the nursery industry.

In [[Southwest Australia| the South-West of Western Australia]], six species have become naturalised from garden escapes along rivers, wetlands and seasonally wet ground. In places Watsonia spp. have displaced native understorey flora; concentrations of them create a fire hazard in summer.

== References ==

Goldblatt, P. (1989) The Genus Watsonia. Ann. Kirstenbosch Bot. Gard. 19. (National Botanic Gardens: Cape Town).

{{cite book
| last = Hussey
| first = BMJ
| coauthors = Keighery GJ, Cousens RD, Dodd J, Lloyd SG
| title = Western Weeds: A Guide to the Weeds of Western Australia
| publisher = Plant Protection Society of WA
| date = 1997
| location = Perth
| pages =
| isbn = 0 646 32440 3}}

Watsonia (plant) - Revision history

Raffi at 20:02, 29 January 2008