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History of the Amaryllis, included in the same family of bulbous plants, started in 1753 thanks to Carl Linnaeus. Amaryllis owes his name to Virgil's heroine. Translated from the Greek, amarysso means “sparkling”, but at the same time the names of the culture, similar to Amarella, remind of the bitterness and toxicity of the amaryllis bulb.
Despite the attention of the famous botanist, systematics of this kind have been confused and imperfect for many centuries. In addition to the true African Amaryllis, as in the photo, plants of the South American continent that were similar in appearance to the genus for a long time were attributed to the genus. However, with the similarity of plants, serious differences were found in reproduction methods and other characteristics of the cultures.
Only at the end of the 20th century was it possible to put an end to the disputes of scientists and finally clarify the classification.
Only in 1987, the International Congress of Botanists concluded that it was necessary to revise the division of the Amaryllis family into genera. Today, American species of ornamental bulbous plants are excluded from the genus Amaryllis and form their own genus Hippeastrum.
Description of amaryllis and their flowering
Amaryllis bulbs are quite large, reaching 5–10 cm in diameter. They have an oval or ovoid shape and a coating of thin dried scales. By the end of summer, in the southern hemisphere, falling from February to March, a bare peduncle rises above the bulb, 30 to 60 cm high.
The inflorescence at its top consists of several pink flowers whose funnel-shaped corolla can reach 10 cm at the time of full dissolutiondiameter. In appearance, amaryllis really has a lot in common with hippeastrum.
A corolla consists of six pointed petals.
Flowers are fastened at the top of the peduncle, 2–20 pieces each.
Amaryllis leaves that appear after the wilting of the inflorescence have a length of up to 50 cm and are located opposite to each other at the base of the peduncle.
After pollination, on the site of the flower a fruit-box with Amaryllis seeds is formed.
But if the hippeastrum seeds inside the fruit have a black color and a flattened shape, then amaryllis, under the cover of the box, has small bulbs of a greenish, whitish or pink color.
Despite these differences, the power of habit is extremely high, so the hippeastrum is still mistakenly called Amaryllis.
In order for the growing culture in the house to bloom regularly and give birth to offspring, it is important to accurately identify the specific specimen and select the correct agricultural techniques.
Amaryllis species and the origin of
Amaryllis belladonna for more than ten years remained the only species in the genus. But in 1998, another closely related plant, called Amaryllis paradisicola, was found in his homeland.
Compared with amaryllis, the belladonna paradisicola has wider grooved leaves, and the maximum number of flowers in the inflorescence can go up to 21 versus 12.
Belladonna flowers have rims of various colors from pale pink to purple or violet.
In a new species, the flowers are evenly pink, and the hue saturation increases as it opens.
In addition, when approaching the clumps of Amaryllis paradisicol, it is impossible not to feel the strong aroma of flowers, reminiscent of the smell of daffodils, also included in the Amaryllis family.
Amaryllis is the birthplace of belladonna or paradisicola is South Africa. Moreover, these plants are found in strictly limited areas. For example, amaryllis belladonna is a native inhabitant of the Cape Province, where it can be seen on wet coastal slopes. Paradisicola prefers more dry, mountainous places, often populating stony ledges and mountain scree.
Because of the large, heavy seeds, amaryllis of both species in nature forms dense clusters. Falling into the ground during the rainy season, the bulbs quickly germinate, creating extensive curtains in a very limited area.
But in the garden and at home, plants are well tolerated by single planting. Cultivation in open ground is limited to low frost resistance of the crop. First of all, frosts affect the leaves of amaryllis and its flowers, but severe frosts damage the bulbs and adversely affect future flowering.
At home, amaryllis bloom after a long dry period, ending in March or April. Therefore, the people of the plant are known as Easter lilies, although this culture is associated with real lilies is an extremely distant relationship. Due to the lack of leaves during flowering Amaryllis called the "naked lady."
Large, fragrant flowers of amaryllis, as pictured, attract many insects. In the daytime, the main pollinators of plants are bees, and at night, moths hover over pink clumps.
Cultivated Amaryllis and their Hybrids
Belladonna species was cultivated in the early 1700s. Amaryllis bulbs were transported to England, then to the south of Australia and to America. It was in Australia, at the beginning of the 19th century, that hybrid plants were first obtained. Today it is already impossible to recognize their nature, but they became the basis for obtaining amaryllis, the colors of which differ from natural.
Florists of the plant have at their disposal revealing corollas of purple, peach, almost red and even absolutely white.
In white Amaryllis, in the photo, unlike the pink varieties, the stems are completely green and do not have a bluish or purple hue. Modern breeders obtained plants with corollas, which are decorated with stripes and streaks, which have beautifully darkened edges or have light yellow centers. Unlike wild-growing Amaryllis, cultivated species often form a hemispherical inflorescence.
Type Amaryllis belladonna already in our time has been used for crossing with Murray krinum. The resulting hybrid species was called amarcrinum( Amarcrinum).And today the plant produces amazingly beautiful and varied varieties.
Another amaryllis hybrid is obtained by crossing with Josephine's Brunswig. He was called amarygia( Amarygia).
Amaryllis Toxicity
Amaryllises are not only beautiful. They can be dangerous for people and pets that care for them.
In amaryllis bulbs, its leaves and stems are toxic compounds, including amaryllidine, phenanthridine, licorin and other alkaloids, when ingested which a person experiences:
- emetic desires;
- blood pressure lowering;
- respiratory depression;
- intestinal discomfort;
- lethargy;
- increased salivation.
The concentration of toxic substances is low. Therefore, for an adult person, the plant is dangerous to a small extent, but for children and pets, amaryllis is poisonous. At the first signs of ill health and suspicion of a bulb or green plant entering the intestinal tract, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
A serious stage of poisoning threatens to stop breathing and adversely affect the nervous system. Often this problem affects livestock, for example, goats and cows grazing next to flower beds.
The toxicity of amaryllis affects those who suffer from contact dermatitis. Plant sap can irritate the skin, so it’s safer to work with gloves.
