Amaryllis is a fibrous rooted perennial bulbous herb. Plants are about 45-60 cm high bearing many strap-like glossy and green leaves. The inflorescence consisting of a leafless stalk is an umbel and attains a height of about 60 -120 cm. Flowers are large, funnel shaped and remain fresh for 4-5 days from the date of opening. (See other classification of amaryllis and hippeastrum)

4. Reginae-type amaryllis hybrids

Pedicels are usually relatively shorter than the long trumpet and Belladonna- type hybrids.

Flowers rather drooping, horizontal or slightly upright, moderately open faced, tepal tube short, the bulbs grown for trade at present are usually seed propagated, belong to the Reginae division. The important cultivars are divided into two groups, markedly imbricated and less imbricated type.

5. Leopoldi-type amaryllis hybrids

These are similar to Reginae type hybrids, except that the flowers are flat and wide, openfaced type with almost overlapping, regular, rounded tepal segments and are held horizontally.

6. Orchid -flowering amaryllis hybrids

The orchid-flowering types may be from crosses involving Amaryllis cybister. The interesting example of appearance of orchid flowering individuals among the progenx of the Leopoldii strain is Cannae Butterfly. This has large blooms with strongly ridged and twisted tepal segments which begin their reflexing from the rigid, thick, greenish white midrib, the general appearance is red with white ribs.


V. Species and Cultivars of Amaryllis

Various species and cultivars of Amaryllis and Hippeastrum are mentioned in the next article.



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