BULB AND INFLORESCENCE DEVELOPMENT IN NERINE SARNIENSIS

Nerine is an autumn flowering perennial bulbous plant native to southe rn Africa belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae. Irregular flowering is often encountered in commercial flower production. The annual life cycle of Nerine sarniensis is characterized by flowering in autumn pri or to leaf emergence, active leaf growth during winter and early sprin g, followed by leaf senescence and a rest period during the hot dry su mmer. The objective of this study was to follow the ontogeny of N. sar niensis cv. 'Autumn Glory' with special emphasis on differentiation an d development of vegetative and generative apices under outdoor growin g conditions in Israel. It was found that leaf development lasted appr oximately eleven months, with active leaf growth of up to five months, depending on the onset of high temperatures in late spring. For most of the year the bulb contains two inflorescences at different stages o f development. Inflorescence development from initiation to anthesis l asted 21-22 months, i.e., active development occurred in the bulb duri ng its rest period. Development was only arrested for approximately tw o months at the end of summer, just prior to flowering.