A genus of bulbs in the Alliaceae family, mostly from South America. Some, such as N. gracile are noxious weeds that are best avoided, whereas others are delightful little treasures, particularly the yellow-flowered species. This genus is subject to much taxonomic debate and species have been known by many different names and there is no consensus about what is the correct name for them. A few of the yellow flowered species have been making the rounds of genera ( Milla, Tristagma, Brodiaea, Ipheion, Beauverdia) but the debate for them now seems to be between Nothoscordum and Ipheion. There is a difference in seeds, but this cannot be seen without magnification. Nothoscordum species usually have several flowered umbels and Ipheion species one-flowered inflorescences, but there are exceptions. There have been many proposed new additional species added to Nothoscordum, but many of these have not been verified and they are difficult to tell apart and almost impossible from Herbarium specimens which often look alike. Further confusing the issue is that one botanist moved Ipheion to Tristagma, a move not supported by everyone.
Nothoscordum bivalve (L.) Britton is found in both North and South America. In North America it is found in the southeastern and southwestern United States and Mexico, in South America in Argentina and Uruguay. Flowers are creamy white with yellowish centers and have a honey-like perfume released on warm and sunny days. Nothoscordum bivalve has a tall scape with minute flowers not unlike Nothoscordum gracile and two broadish "valves" (bracts) much like a crab's claws. Nothoscordum bivalve is a rather common species related to Allium. The leaves are strap-like (not hollow as in Allium), and the sap does not have an onion or garlic-like scent. The flowers are pretty and deliciously fragrant, but open only in direct sunshine. It tends to form offset bulbils readily but it is well-behaved in the garden and not weedy. Photos by: Dennis Szeszko showing a closeup view of the flowere showing striping on sepals, a closeup view of the flower from the side and a closeup view of flowers at noon on a sunny day. (Note the hypogynous flowers with the ovary positioned in front of the flower parts.)
Nothoscordum dialystemon , syn. Ipheion dialystemon and referred to by some as Nothoscordum felipponei is a yellow-flowered plant with 8 tepals instead of the normal six. Kew lists Nothoscordum as the correct genus and the RHS plant finder Ipheion. In its native habitat it grows in full sun in powdery soil in an area with regular rainfall and is dormant in summer when it is hot. Winters are much colder than for this form of this species. In areas with dry summers this plant benefits from occasional water during dormancy since it has perennial roots. Mine are growing better by providing more heat during dormancy (greenhouse). These pictures were taken a year apart and the flower looks quite different in the different photos even though it is the same plant. The first picture was taken by Mary Sue Ittner and the second by Bob Rutemoeller.
Photos below by John Lonsdale
Nothoscordum gracile, syns. Nothoscordum inodorum, Nothoscordum fragrans, Nothoscordum borbonicum, Allium gracile, and Allium fragans from South America has grass-like leaves. It is closely related to Allium species, but lacks the onion or garlic odor when crushed. It is extremely prolific, invasive, and difficult to eradicate. Flowers are bell-shaped, white with greenish bases and reddish to brown midveins on the back of the tepals. Each umbel has 8 to 15 fragrant flowers. Seed is very viable and germinates well. It produces many small bulblets on short stalks from the base of the parent bulb that are easily dislodged when you try to remove the parent bulb so there are several ways for increase to occur. The best remedy if you find one in a pot is to remove the plant and soil and repot any other bulb you want to keep with new soil. This picture shows a flower of this species. Three or four batches of Tulbaghia seed with different species names from NARGS seed exchanges has turned out to be this pest instead. Beware as this has escaped in many areas, especially Mediterranean climates. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner show the flowers before they open, fully opened on a warm day late in the afternoon and the leaves with another spike forming.
Nothoscordum hirtellum (Kunth) Herter (syn. Ipheion hirtellum (Kunth) Traub) In this yellow flowered species it is common to find flowers with 8 tepals instead of 6. This species is found in E Argentina and in Uruguay in open pastures and never in low ground. It is dormant in summer, but from an area with year round rainfall although higher in spring and autumn. In the wild it is in bloom in April to June. Photo by Germán Roitman
Nothoscordum minarum Beauverd is very similar to N. montevidense except it has larger bulbs and smaller and more numerous flowers. It is fragrant and can bloom in autumn and again in spring. It is considered to be a subspecies of N. montevidense by some authors.
Photo by John Lonsdale
Nothoscordum montevidense Beauverd- a wonderful small plant that flowers up a storm both in spring and again in fall and early winter. The stems only reach a few inches in height (about 10 cm). Not hardy in my USDA Zone 5 garden in northern New England (Massachusetts), I take the potted plants inside over winter. The sunny yellow globlets have a nice lemony scent. From Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Photos by Mark McDonough and John Lonsdale.
Nothoscordum ostenii Beauverd is a yellow flowered species from Uruguay that flowers in spring and is dormant in summer. Photos by John Lonsdale.
Nothoscordum sellowianum or Ipheion sellowianum (Kunth)Traub) or Nothoscordum felipponei . What to call this plant is very confusing. Many of us received it as Ipheion sellowianum only to be told to call it Nothoscordum sellowianum and then were told that Nothoscordum felipponei was the correct name for both this plant and Nothoscordum dialystemon. The RHS plant finder still lists both species under Ipheion. Kew on the other hand recognizes none of these names, but gives two more possibilities, Nothoscordum bivale var. bivale as a syn. for Nothoscordum sellowianum and
Tristagma sellowianum as the correct name for Ipheion sellowianum. The plant most of us grow is from South America where it is found in clay soil, that is slightly acidic and rich in organic matter in an area with rainfall for most of the year with a brief dry period in late summer. It is lemon yellow with 6 tepals. Photos by Sheila Burrow and John Lonsdale.
Here are a couple of photos showing N. sellowianum and N. dialystemon side by side showing the noticeable difference in their leaves. The second photo is a close-up so you can see more detail. As I mentioned in my post, "my N. dialystemon has leaves that, while narrow, are twice as wide as those of my N. sellowianum. They are also much flatter. The N. sellowianum leaves are almost tubular." Photos by Lee Poulsen.
Nothoscordum vittatum (syn. Ipheion vittatum) has white flowers and is found in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina in grasslands, flowering from April to June. It grows in areas with year round rainfall. This species is dormant in summer, but keeps its perennial roots. Photos by Germán Roitman
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