Difference between revisions of "Amaryllis"

From Gardenology.org - Plant Encyclopedia and Gardening Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
(belladonna is the only species in the genus)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Taxobox
+
#REDIRECT [[Amaryllis belladonna]]
| color = lightgreen
 
| name = ''Amaryllis''
 
| image = NakedLadies.jpg
 
| image_width = 250px
 
| image_caption = "Naked Lady" flowers in the [[Sinkyone Wilderness State Park]], [[California]].
 
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
 
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
 
| classis = [[monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]
 
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
 
| familia = [[Amaryllidaceae]]
 
| genus = '''''Amaryllis'''''
 
| species = '''''A. belladonna'''''
 
| binomial = ''Amaryllis belladonna''
 
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
 
}}
 
 
 
'''''Amaryllis''''' is a monotypic (only one species) [[genus]] of plant also known as the '''Belladonna Lily''' or '''naked ladies'''. The single species, ''Amaryllis belladonna'', is a native of [[South Africa]], particularly the rocky southwest region near the Cape. It is often confused with the [[Hippeastrum]], a flowering [[bulb]] commonly sold in the winter months for its propensity to [[flower|bloom]] [[indoors]]. It is also known as the "Jersey Lily", named after the Channel Island, and has in turn given its name to the Jersey born actress [[Lillie Langtry]].
 
 
 
==Characteristics==
 
[[Image:Amaryllis belladonna.jpg|thumb|left|120px|''Amaryllis belladonna'']]
 
The Belladonna Lily is a [[bulb]]ous plant, with each bulb being 5-10 cm in diameter. It has several strap-shaped, green [[leaf|leaves]], 30-50 cm long and 2-3 cm broad, arranged in two rows. The leaves are produced in the autumn or early spring in cold climates and eventually die down by late spring. The bulb is then dormant until late summer.
 
 
 
In late summer (August in zone 7) each bulb produces one or two naked stems 30-60 cm tall, each of which bear a cluster of 2 to 12 funnel-shaped [[flower]]s at their tops. Each flower is 6-10 cm diameter with six [[sepal]]s (three outer sepals, three inner petals, with similar appearance to each other). The usual color is white with crimson veins, but pink or purple also occur naturally. This pattern of flowering at a different time from when foliage appears is the cause of its common name "naked lady". [http://www.thegoodwebguide.co.uk/index.php?art_id=558]
 
 
 
The Belladonna Lily was introduced into cultivation at the beginning of the eighteenth century. However, most of the so-called Amaryllis bulbs sold as 'ready to bloom for the holidays' belong to the allied genus [[Hippeastrum]], despite being labeled as 'Amaryllis' by sellers and [[nursery (horticulture)|nurseries]]. Adding to the name confusion, some bulbs of other species with a similar growth and flowering pattern are also sometimes called "naked ladies", even though those species have their own more widely used and accepted common names, such as the [[Resurrection Lily]] (''Lycoris squamigera'').
 
{{-}}
 
 
 
==Etymology==
 
The scientific name ''Amaryllis'' is taken from a shepherdess in [[Virgil]]'s pastoral "[[Eclogues]]," from the [[Greek language|Greek]] αμαρυσσω ([[Latin]] ''amarysso'') meaning "to sparkle."[http://behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=amaryllis]
 
 
 
It is used as a [[given name]] for females.
 
 
 
==External links==
 
* [http://www.hippeastrum.info Amaryllis and Hippeastrum Info Forum Cultivation etc(Ger+Eng)]
 
{{Commons|Amaryllis belladonna}}
 
{{Commons|Lycoris radiata}}
 
 
 
[[Category:Christmas plants]]
 
[[Category:Amaryllidaceae]]
 
[[Category:Garden plants]]
 
[[Category:Flowers]]
 
 
 
;Name: Amaryllis belladonna
 
{{de|Belladonnalilie}}
 
 
 
;Family: Amaryllidaceae
 
 
 
<gallery>
 
Image:Amaryllis_belladonna_ellywa.png|Drawing by Elly Waterman
 
Image:Amaryllis belladonna.jpg
 
Image:NakedLadies.jpg
 
Image:Amaryllis belladonna sfbg 1.jpg
 
Image:Amaryllis belladonna sfbg 2.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
 
 
[[Category:Amaryllis]]
 
[[Category:Poisonous plants]]
 

Latest revision as of 16:15, 18 July 2009