Fritillaria persica explained

Fritillaria persica is a Middle Eastern species of flowering plant in the lily family Liliaceae, native to southern Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus and Palestine.^{[1] [2]} It is widely cultivated as an ornamental and naturalized in the Lazio region of Italy.^[3] It is the sole species in Fritillaria subgenus Theresia.

The Latin specific epithet persica means "Persian", referring to the modern country of Iran.^[4]

Fritillaria persica is a robust bulbous perennial growing 30- tall. Each plant may bear up to 30, conical, narrow, bell-shaped flowers, up to 0.75inches long, ranging in colour from deep purple to greenish brown.^{[5] [6]}

A plant commonly found in cultivation outside its range is the cultivar 'Adiyaman', which is taller and more free-flowering than populations of the species inside its native range. This cultivar has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^{[7] [8]}

Notes and References

1. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=306812 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Fritillaria persica
2. http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/AsianFritillariaTwo Pacific Bulb Society, Fritillaria Two
3. http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=fritillaria+persica Altervista Flora Italiana, Meleagride persiana, Fritillaria persica L.
4. Book: Harrison, Lorraine . RHS Latin for Gardeners . 2012 . Mitchell Beazley . United Kingdom . 978-1845337315 .
5. "Botanica. The Illustrated AZ of over 10000 garden plants and how to cultivate them", p. 384. Könemann, 2004.
6. Book: RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. 2008. Dorling Kindersley. United Kingdom. 978-1405332965. 1136.
7. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Fritillaria persica 'Adiyaman' . 16 February 2018.
8. Web site: AGM Plants - Ornamental . July 2017 . 39 . Royal Horticultural Society . 27 February 2018.