Pancratium (plant)

Pancratium is a genus of African and Eurasian perennial, herbaceous and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae

The flowers are large, white and fragrant. The perianth tube and the corona are present. It differs from the similar Hymenocallis in its numerous seeds with a thin black skin. Plants belonging to the genus Pancratium have been found in prehistoric Cretan frescoes.

Etymology
The name "Pancratium" is derived from the Greek and means "all-strength", probably referring to the strength of a plant that can tolerate extreme climates. Pancratium species often inhabit extremely dry and sandy areas.

Species
Many species have been published using the name Pancratium, but most have been transferred to other genera (Clinanthus, Hymenocallis, Ismene, Proiphys and Stenomesson). Only a few species are cultivated. P. maritimum and P. illyricum being the hardiest for outdoor cultivation, but shy flowering in cool areas. P. zeylanicum is sometimes grown as a hothouse container plant.

, Plants of the World Online of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew accepted 24 species in the genus:


 * Pancratium arabicum Sickenb. - Egypt
 * Pancratium bhramarambae Sadas.
 * Pancratium biflorum Roxb. - India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong
 * Pancratium canariense Ker Gawl. - Canary Islands
 * Pancratium centrale (A.Chev.) Traub - Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Central African Republic
 * Pancratium donaldii Blatt. - India
 * Pancratium foetidum Pomel - Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya
 * Pancratium illyricum L. - Corsica, Sardinia, Capri Island
 * Pancratium landesii Traub - Oman
 * Pancratium longiflorum Roxb. ex Ker Gawl. - India
 * Pancratium maritimum L. - Canary Islands, Mediterranean, Caucasus
 * Pancratium maximum Forssk. - Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman
 * Pancratium nairii Sasikala & Reema Kumari
 * Pancratium parvicoronatum Geerinck - Democratic Republic of the Congo to Malawi
 * Pancratium parvum Dalzell - India
 * Pancratium sickenbergeri Asch. & Schweinf. - Egypt, Israel, Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia
 * Pancratium st-mariae Blatt. & Hallb. - India
 * Pancratium telanganense Sadas.
 * Pancratium tenuifolium Hochst. ex A.Rich. - tropical and southern Africa
 * Pancratium tortuosum Herb. - Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia
 * Pancratium trianthum Herb. - Sahara, Sahel
 * Pancratium triflorum Roxb. - India, Bangladesh
 * Pancratium verecundum Aiton - Himalayas
 * Pancratium zeylanicum L. - India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, Philippines, Maluku

Additionally, further species have been recently described:
 * Pancratium venkaiahii

Pollination ecology
Pancratium tenuifolium and Pancratium maritimum is pollinated by the moth species Agrius convolvuli. In Pancratium maritimum pollination by bees, namely Xylocopa violacea, Apis mellifera, and Anthophora bimaculata, has also been reported. However, it has been stated that bees are not effective pollinators of this species and that it fully depends on hawkmoths for effective pollination.

Herbivory
The moth species Brithys crini feeds on Pancratium maritimum in the larval stage.