Abstract

"Bulb weight or size is one of the critical factors affecting the vegetative growth and flowering of bulbous species. This study assessed the effect of bulb weight on the growth and flowering of Herbaria lahue subsp. lahue. This bulbous species, commonly known as ""lahue,"" has the potential to be used as an ornamental plant. Lahue bulbs were collected during their dormant period from Tregualemu (Region del Maule), grouped by weight categories and planted in Talca in an unheated polyethylene greenhouse. Phenology data, flowering characteristics and the number of newly formed bulbs were recorded for one season. Plants emerged 2-3 weeks after planting and flowered during the spring, between 8 and 9 months after planting. During fruit set, the leaves began their senescence process and reached dormancy during the summer. Lahue behaved as a typical geophytes adapted to a seasonal climate such as the Mediterranean climate of Central Chile. Bulbs weighing 0.35 g or more were able to flower. However, bulbs greater than 0.75 g produced more and better quality flowers. The average multiplication rate of the bulbs was 1-1.13 bulblets per planted bulb, regardless of the bulb weight; there was no correlation between multiplication rate and bulb weight. This study demonstrated that it is possible to grow lahue as a pot plant or garden plant and that the size of the bulb will determine if flowering can be achieved."