Griffinia Explained

Griffinia is a genus of Brazilian plants in the Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. It includes 23 known species which are endemic to Brazil. The most closely related genus to it is the monotypic Worsleya.

The members of the genus Griffinia are tropical, bulbous plants which grow in high levels of humidity. The leaves are green, petiolate, elliptical, sometimes with white speckles on them. The flowers are typical for the tribe - lilac or blue colored (although there are also white - colored species) and collected into an umbel. Many of the members in this genus are endangered because of the deforestation of their habitat.^[1]

Taxonomy

Griffinia was published by John Bellenden Ker in 1820 with Griffinia hyacinthina as the type species. The genus Hyline published by William Herbert in 1840 is now a synonym of Griffinia, but it was retained on the subgeneric level as the subgenus Griffinia subg. Hyline Rav. published by Pedro Felix Ravenna in 1969. The genus Libonia Lem. published by Charles Antoine Lemaire in 1852 is a synonym of Griffinia

Subgenera

The genus Griffinia is divided into Griffinia subg. Hyline, in which only Griffinia gardneriana (Herb.) Ravenna and Griffinia nocturna Ravenna are placed, as well as the autonymous subgenus Griffinia subg. Griffinia, which includes all other species.^[2]

Species

As of June 2023, the genus comprises 23 species:^[3]

• Griffinia alba K.D.Preuss & Meerow
• Griffinia albolineata Campos-Rocha
• Griffinia angustifolia Campos-Rocha, Dutilh & Semir
• Griffinia aracensis Ravenna
• Griffinia arifolia Ravenna
• Griffinia capixabae Campos-Rocha & Dutilh
• Griffinia colatinensis Ravenna
• Griffinia concinna (Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Ravenna
• Griffinia espiritensis Ravenna
• Griffinia gardneriana (Herb.) Ravenna
• Griffinia hyacinthina (Ker Gawl.) Ker Gawl.
• Griffinia ilheusiana Ravenna
• Griffinia intermedia Lindl.
• Griffinia itambensis Ravenna
• Griffinia liboniana É.Morren
• Griffinia meerowiana Campos-Rocha & M.Peixoto
• Griffinia mucurina Ravenna
• Griffinia nocturna Ravenna
• Griffinia ornata T.Moore
• Griffinia parviflora Ker Gawl.
• Griffinia paubrasilica Ravenna
• Griffinia rochae G.M.Morel
• Griffinia rostrata Ravenna

Several unplaced names exist:

• Hyline itaobina Ravenna was published by Pedro Felix Ravenna in 2003.^[4]
• Hyline paraensis Ravenna was published by Pedro Felix Ravenna in 2003.^[5]

Conservation

Griffinia intermedia is categorized as endangered (EN) by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is only known from two locations, in which the species, as well as its habitat is continually declining.^[6] An initiative has been taken to replicate the fragrance of Griffinia gardneriana, which is threatened with extinction, for the creation of a perfume. The sale of the perfume is meant to financially contribute to the conservation effort for this species.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Preuss, Kevin D. 2000. The Genus Griffinia Ker Gawler (Amaryllidaceae), Revisited. Herbertia 54(1999): 51-66.
2. Meerow, A. W., Preuss, K. D., Fernando, A., & Tombolato, C. (2000, August). "Griffinia (Amaryllidaceae), a critically endangered Brazilian geophyte with horticultural potential." In VIII International Symposium on Flowerbulbs 570 (pp. 57–64).
3. 330432-2 . Griffinia Ker Gawl. . 27 June 2023.
4. 20010954-1 . Hyline itaobina Ravenna . 24 November 2024.
5. 20010955-1 . Hyline paraensis Ravenna . 24 November 2024.
6. Moraes, L. 2016. Griffinia intermedia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T107250175A107302180. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T107250175A107302180.pt. Accessed on 15 May 2023.
7. Fischermann, T. (2022, February 4). Jägerin der verlorenen Düfte. ZEIT ONLINE. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://www.zeit.de/2022/06/pflanzenschutz-kosmetik-luiza-de-paula-the-red-list-project