Pregnant onion (Albuca bracteata)
Description
Albuca bracteata (syn. Ornithogalum longebracteatum), is known by the common names pregnant onion, false sea onion, and sea-onion. It is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. Its flowering stems can reach a height of 90 cm and are carry up to 100 greenish white flowers. It is used as a house plant and in traditional medicine. Strap-shaped lanceolate leaves, 60 cm (2 ft) long and 2.5 cm (1 in) wide, protrude from a bulky bulb which is largely above ground. The roots are white and succulent. Many small, fragrant, white flowers, with a diameter of 0.5 cm and a green midvein, are located on racemes that can reach 70–90 cm tall. Flowering usually occurs from May to August, with 50 to 100 flowers per stalk. One plant can have up to 300 flowers at one time. Fruit capsules are 10 mm long and 6 mm in diameter. Seeds are oblong with dimensions of 4 by 1.5 mm. Albuca bracteata is a cryptophyte, as the foliage dies back during drought periods.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Asparagales
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Family: Asparagaceae
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Genus: Albuca
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