Amaryllis belladonna

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Amaryllis belladonna
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae
Genus: Amaryllis
Species:
A. belladonna
Binomial name
Amaryllis belladonna
Synonyms[1]
Species synonymy
  • Amaryllis blanda Ker Gawl.
  • Amaryllis longipetala Lem.
  • Amaryllis obliqua L.f. ex Savage
  • Amaryllis pallida Delile
  • Amaryllis pudica Ker Gawl.
  • Amaryllis regalis Salisb.
  • Amaryllis rosea Lam.
  • Belladonna blanda (Ker Gawl.) Sweet
  • Belladonna pallida (Delile) Sweet
  • Belladonna pudica (Ker Gawl.) Sweet
  • Belladonna purpurascens Sweet
  • Brunsvigia blanda (Ker Gawl.) L.S.Hannibal
  • Brunsvigia major Traub
  • Brunsvigia rosea (Lam.) L.S.Hannibal
  • Brunsvigia rosea var. blanda (Ker Gawl.) Traub
  • Brunsvigia rosea var. elata L.S.Hannibal
  • Brunsvigia rosea var. longipetala (Lem.) Traub
  • Brunsvigia rosea var. major L.S.Hannibal
  • Brunsvigia rosea var. minor L.S.Hannibal
  • Brunsvigia rosea var. pallida (Delile) L.S.Hannibal
  • Brunsvigia rosea var. pudica (Ker Gawl.) L.S.Hannibal
  • Callicore rosea (Lam.) Link
  • Coburgia belladonna (L.) Herb.
  • Coburgia blanda (Ker Gawl.) Herb.
  • Coburgia pallida (Delile) Herb.
  • Coburgia pudica (Ker Gawl.) Herb.
  • Coburgia rosea (Lam.) Gouws
  • Imhofia rosea (Lam.) Salisb.
  • Leopoldia belladonna (L.) M.Roem.
  • Zephyranthes pudica (Ker Gawl.) D.Dietr.

Amaryllis belladonna,

Scilly Isles of Great Britain, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ascension Island, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Chile, California, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan and the Juan Fernández Islands.[6][7]

Description

hysteranthy) which are narrow and strap shaped.[4][5]

Taxonomy and etymology

Amaryllis belladonna is one of the two species in the genus Amaryllis as currently circumscribed.[8]

The specific epithet belladonna is derived from the Italian bella donna, which means beautiful lady.[9]

Habitat

A. belladonna in California

Amaryllis belladonna is found in South Africa, where the plants are found growing among rocks.[5]

Ecology

Leaves of A. belladonna begin growing in early spring, or during late autumn. They last for a few weeks to a few months until they wither away, and a flower stalk will begin growing. When found in the wild, Amaryllis belladonna is pollinated by

wind dispersal during the winter time. This is to coincide with the first winter rain during March, and April. Seeds will germinate in as early as two weeks, but will not develop into a fully flowering plant until three to six years later.[citation needed
]

All parts of the A. belladonna plant are toxic and contain several different alkaloids, such as

amaryllidine. This can cause vomiting and diarrhea in humans. In wildlife these toxins will affect grazing species, and will cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distress, lethargy, and heart or renal failure. Deer will avoid eating this plant, possibly due to an evolutionary relationship.[11]

Cultivation

The bulbs are best planted just below the surface of the soil, with the neck of the bulb level with the surface. In colder climates

mulching or lifting and overwintering is required. The bulbs may be propagated from offsets. Amaryllis bulbs require little watering and are drought tolerant.[5] This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4]

Medicinal properties

Several compounds have been found in A. belladonna bulbs, including, 1,4-dihydroxy-3-methoxy powellan, which is an alkaloid. It has been observed that alkaloids in this plants bulb have properties to fight against malaria caused by P. falciparum.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Amaryllis belladonna, The Plant List
  2. ^ Linnaeus, Carl (1753). Species Plantarum. Vol. 1. p. 293 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  4. ^ a b c RHS 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d Phipps 2011.
  6. ^ "Amaryllis belladonna". Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
  7. ^ "Amaryllis Belladona distribution map". Biota of North America Project.
  8. ^ "Search for Amaryllis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  9. ISBN 978-0-521-86645-3
    .
  10. doi:10.1016/S0254-6299(15)30422-1
    .
  11. ^ "Is Amaryllis Belladonna Toxic?". Garden Guides. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  12. PMID 29162457
    .

Bibliography

Media related to Amaryllis belladonna at Wikimedia Commons

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