Polianthes tuberosa
The
tuberose is a perennial plant related to the agaves, extracts of which are used as a middle note in perfumery. The common name derives from the Latin
tuberosa, meaning swollen or tuberous in reference to its root system.
Polianthes means "many flowers" in Greek. In Mexican Spanish the flower is called
nardo or
vara de San José, which means ‘St. Joseph’s staff’. The tuberose is a night-blooming plant thought to be native to Mexico along with every other species of
Polianthes. It grows in elongated spikes up to 45 cm long that produce clusters of fragrant waxy white flowers that bloom from the bottom towards the top of the spike. It has long, bright green leaves clustered at the base of the plant and smaller, clasping leaves along the stem. Members of the closely related genus
Manfreda are often called "tuberoses". In the Philippines, the plant is also known as
azucena, and while once associated with funerals it is now used in floral arrangements for other occasions.