Leucocoryne

Leucocoryne (glory-of-the-sun) is a genus of bulbous perennial plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. The foliage of all species is long and narrow and has an onion-like scent. The blue, white or lilac flowers are held in umbels.

The entire genus is endemic to northern and central Chile in South America. Some species are grown in gardens as ornamentals. They require very well-drained soil and do not tolerate freezing temperatures. L. purpurea, with purple flowers, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Derivation of genus name
The generic name Leucocoryne is a compound of the Greek elements λευκός ( = leucos ) "white" and κορυνε ( = korune ) "club" ( in the sense of cudgel or bludgeon ) - in reference to the pale, club-like, sterile anthers of the flowers.

Species
Species accepted by The Plant List are listed here (49) although some authorities estimate only 15.


 * 1) Leucocoryne alliacea Lindl.
 * 2) Leucocoryne angosturae Ravenna
 * 3) Leucocoryne angustipetala Gay
 * 4) Leucocoryne appendiculata Phil.
 * 5) Leucocoryne arrayanensis Ravenna
 * 6) Leucocoryne candida Ravenna
 * 7) Leucocoryne codehuensis Ravenna
 * 8) Leucocoryne conconensis Ravenna
 * 9) Leucocoryne conferta Zoellner
 * 10) Leucocoryne coquimbensis F.Phil. ex Phil.
 * 11) Leucocoryne coronata Ravenna
 * 12) Leucocoryne curacavina Ravenna
 * 13) Leucocoryne dimorphopetala (Gay) Ravenna
 * 14) Leucocoryne editiana Ravenna
 * 15) Leucocoryne foetida Phil.
 * 16) Leucocoryne fragrantissima Ravenna
 * 17) Leucocoryne fuscostriata Ravenna
 * 18) Leucocoryne gilliesioides (Phil.) Ravenna syn. Erinna  gilliesioides Phil.
 * 19) Leucocoryne inclinata Ravenna
 * 20) Leucocoryne incrassata Phil.
 * 21) Leucocoryne ixioides (Sims) Lindl.
 * 22) Leucocoryne leucogyna Ravenna
 * 23) Leucocoryne lilacea Ravenna
 * 24) Leucocoryne lituecensis Ravenna
 * 25) Leucocoryne lurida Ravenna
 * 26) Leucocoryne macropetala Phil.
 * 27) Leucocoryne maulensis Ravenna
 * 28) Leucocoryne modesta Ravenna
 * 29) Leucocoryne mollensis Ravenna
 * 30) Leucocoryne narcissoides Phil. (discovered by Scottish botanist Thomas King)
 * 31) Leucocoryne odorata Lindl.
 * 32) Leucocoryne pachystyla Ravenna
 * 33) Leucocoryne pauciflora Phil.
 * 34) Leucocoryne porphyrea Ravenna
 * 35) Leucocoryne praealta Ravenna
 * 36) Leucocoryne purpurea Gay
 * 37) Leucocoryne quilimarina Ravenna
 * 38) Leucocoryne reflexa Grau
 * 39) Leucocoryne roblesiana Ravenna
 * 40) Leucocoryne rungensis Ravenna
 * 41) Leucocoryne simulans Ravenna
 * 42) Leucocoryne subulata Ravenna
 * 43) Leucocoryne taguataguensis Ravenna
 * 44) Leucocoryne talinensis Mansur & Cisternas
 * 45) Leucocoryne tricornis Ravenna
 * 46) Leucocoryne ungulifera Ravenna
 * 47) Leucocoryne valparadisea Ravenna
 * 48) Leucocoryne violacescens Phil.
 * 49) Leucocoryne vittata Ravenna