Glossary of Common Clivia Terms

A

Akebono: A type of horizontal leaf variegation developed in Japan with cream or white bands. Akebono means dawn, daybreak, or beginning in Japanese.

Amaryllidaceae: The family of plants that clivia belong to. 

Amaryllidoideae: The subfamily of plants that clivia belong to.

Anther: The male part of the flower the produces pollen. It is borne on a stalk called the filament and together they form the stamen.

B

Berry: The fruit produced by the clivia plant which contain the seeds.

C

Clone: Plants that are propagated vegetatively from a single mother plant that are genetically identical to the mother plant.

D

E

F

G

H

Hirao: A green-flowered variety of C. miniata bred in Japan by Toshio Koike and named in memory of plantsman Dr. Shuichi Hirao. It is one of several green or green-centered clivias developed in Japan.  

I

Inflorescence: The inflorescence is made up of the flower stalk (peduncle) and cluster of flowers (umbel) that it supports.

Interspecific clivia: Clivia that are the result of hybridisation between different species within the genus. The genus is currently made up of six known species: C. caulescens, C. gardenii, C. miniata, C. mirabilis, C. nobilis, and C. robusta.

J

K

L

Light of Buddha: A type of horizontal leaf variegation originating in China with patches of white or yellow. Often but not always lighter in colour towards the centre of the plant, giving a crown variegated effect.

M

Multitepal: Flowers have more than the normal number of six tepals (made up of three sepals and three petals).

N

O

Offset: A small plant that grows from the base of a clivia plant. It can be separated when it is big enough to create a new plant that is a clone of the mother plant.

Ovary: The part of a flower that contains ovules, or eggs, and produces seeds. A component of the pistil, which is the female reproductive organ of the flower. 

P

Pedicel: A short stem that attaches a single flower to the flower stalk of a clivia plant.

Peduncle: The elongated, leafless stem that holds the cluster of flowers on a clivia plant.

Pistil: The female organs of a flower, comprising the stigma, style, and ovary.

Polyploidy: A condition where there are more than two sets of chromosomes in a cell. It can occur naturally or be induced by environmental or chemical treatments. In plant breeding, polyploidy can result in more vigorous, larger, or more productive plants. Many of the plants we eat are polyploids, such as some varieties of wheat, banana, strawberry, potato, and coffee. 

Q

R

S

Sepal: A modified leaf that forms the outer whorl of the flower. Sepals protect the flower bud and support the petals when the flower blooms. 

Stamen: The male reproductive part of the plant. Made up of a thin stalk called the filament which supports the pollen-producing anther. 

Stigma: The sticky tip of the pistil that receives pollen. Part of the female reproductive organ of the flower. 

Striata: A type of longitudinal variegation with cream, white, or light green stripes running longitudinally along the leaf. The stripes may also be seen on peduncles, pedicels and berries.

Style: The stalk that supports the stigma and connects it to the ovary. Part of the female reproductive organ of the flower.

T

Tepal: The sepals and petals of a clivia flower are very similar in shape and collectively they are called tepals.

Tiger: A type of horizontal leaf variegation developed in Japan with raised bands reminiscent of the stripes of a tiger. The bands look like a scab or welt on the surface of the leaf but unlike a scab can be seen on both sides of the leaf.

U

Umbel: The flowerhead of the plant.

V

W

X

Y

Z