Conanthera is a genus of small bulbous flowering plants in the family Tecophilaeaceae, within the order Asparagales. The genus was first described by the Spanish botanists Hipólito Ruiz López and José Antonio Pavón (cited as "Ruiz & Pav."), reflecting its documentation during early Spanish botanical expeditions to South America. GBIF recognizes about seven accepted species in the genus.
Plants in this genus produce small panicles of flowers ranging in color from blue and purple to white marked with purple, arising from bulbs, a growth habit typical of many bulbous relatives within the Asparagales. Propagation occurs both vegetatively, through offsets produced by the bulbs, and by seed.
All Conanthera species are native to Chile, where they occur across a range of regions — from Antofagasta and Atacama in the north to La Araucanía further south — with individual species occupying more restricted portions of this overall range. An isolated 18th-century report placed Conanthera bifolia in colonial Peru as well; this is generally attributed to historical shifts in the political boundary between Peru and Chile rather than a genuine extension of the species' range, since modern treatments list C. bifolia as endemic to Chile.
Named species in the genus include Conanthera bifolia, C. campanulata, C. parvula, C. trimaculata, and C. urceolata.
Distribution
All species of Conanthera are native to Chile, ranging from Antofagasta and Atacama in the north to La Araucanía in the south, with individual species occupying narrower portions of this range. An old 18th-century report also placed Conanthera bifolia in colonial Peru, likely reflecting historical border changes rather than a genuine range extension, since modern sources treat the species as endemic to Chile.
Taxonomy Notes
Conanthera belongs to the family Tecophilaeaceae within the order Asparagales, and was described by Ruiz & Pav. GBIF recognizes about seven accepted species in the genus.
Propagation
Conanthera is propagated by bulb offsets or by seed.
