Zephyranthes robusta

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Zephyranthes robusta
Habranthus robustus (1).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae
Genus: Zephyranthes
Species:
Z. robusta
Binomial name
Zephyranthes robusta
(Herb.) Baker [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Amaryllis berteroiSpreng.
  • Amaryllis robusta(Herb.) Sweet ex Steud.
  • Habranthus berteroi(Spreng.) M.Roem.
  • Habranthus quilmesianusRavenna
  • Habranthus robustusHerb.
  • Hippeastrum berteroi(Spreng.) Christenh. & Byng
  • Hippeastrum quilmesianum(Ravenna) Christenh. & Byng
  • Zephyranthes taubertianaHarms
  • Zephyranthes taubertiiHarms

Zephyranthes robusta, synonym Habranthus robustus, [1] commonly known as the Brazilian copperlily, pink fairy lily or the pink rain lily, is a species of herbaceous flowering bulb. It is native to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, [2] but is now naturalized in Florida, Colombia, South Africa, and Mauritius. [3] [4]

Contents

Description

Zephyranthes robusta is a relatively large species of rain lily. It grows from ovate to obovate bulbs around 3.5 to 5 cm (1.4 to 2.0 in) in diameter. [5]

Plants bear solitary lavender to pale pink, funnel-shaped flowers, 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in) long, held at a slight angle on 15–30 cm (5.9–11.8 in) scapes, [2] with a leaf-like bract 1.8–4 cm (0.71–1.57 in) long at the base. Flowers typically appear after rain from late summer to early fall and are followed by large deep green leaves, measuring 5 to 10 mm (0.20 to 0.39 in) wide and 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) long. [6]

Taxonomy and nomenclature

H. robustus from Florida. Habranthus robustus (2).jpg
H. robustus from Florida.
H. robustus have declineate slightly asymmetrical flowers. Habranthus robustus (3).jpg
H. robustus have declineate slightly asymmetrical flowers.

Zephyranthes robusta belongs to the genus Zephyranthes (rain lilies) of the tribe Hippeastreae, [7] within the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). In older classifications, it was sometimes included within the lily family (Liliaceae). [8] Once treated as Habranthus robustus, it is now re-included in Zephyranthes. [1] [7]

It is commonly known as the 'pink fairy lily', 'pink rain lily', 'pink zephyr lily', 'pink magic lily', 'pink fawn lily', and 'Colombian mini-amaryllis'. It is known as cebollita in Spanish.

Due to having the same common names, it is also frequently confused with other 'pink rain lilies' - namely Zephyranthes rosea and Zephyranthes carinata (also sold under the name Zephyranthes grandiflora). The three species are often mislabeled, but Z. robusta is easily recognizable from the other two by its larger, more strongly bent (and often asymmetrical), paler pink flowers. [9] Z. robusta also has leaves covered with a fine grayish waxy coating (glaucous) in contrast to the leaves of Z. carinata. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Zephyranthes robusta is believed to have originated from Rio Grande do Sul of Brazil. It is native to Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, and is widely naturalized elsewhere. [6]

Cultivation and uses

Zephyranthes robusta is widely grown as an ornamental. It is one of the most prolific of the summer flowering rain lilies. They are propagated by dividing the bulbs (including offsets) and from seed. They are not as tolerant of colder temperatures as other rain lilies. [10]

Chemical composition

The plant contains some toxic compounds like lycorine. Other compound include galanthamine, 3-epimacronine, hippeastidine, lycoramine, galanthine, haemanthamine, haemanthidine, hamayne, tazettine, vittatine, 11-hydroxy vittatine, 8-O-demethylmaritidine. [11]

Toxicity

Similar to the closely related species of Zephyranthes , Z. robusta contains toxic alkaloids. Mainly galantamine-type alkaloids which can be lethal for humans. [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Amaryllis</i> Genus of plants

Amaryllis is the only genus in the subtribe Amaryllidinae. It is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of the Western Cape region of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest area between the Olifants River Valley and Knysna.

<i>Hippeastrum</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Amaryllidaceae

Hippeastrum is a genus of about 90 species and over 600 hybrids and cultivars of perennial herbaceous bulbous plants. They generally have large fleshy bulbs and tall broad leaves, generally evergreen, and large red or purple flowers.

<i>Amaryllis belladonna</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae

Amaryllis belladonna, the Jersey lily, belladonna-lily, naked-lady-lily, or March lily, is a plant species native to Cape Province in South Africa but widely cultivated as an ornamental. It is reportedly naturalized in many places: Corsica, Portugal, the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, the 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, and the Juan Fernández Islands.

<i>Zephyranthes</i> Genus of flowering plants

Zephyranthes is a genus of temperate and tropical plants in the Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, native to the Western Hemisphere and widely cultivated as ornamentals. Following the expansion of the genus in 2019, which now includes the genera Habranthus and Sprekelia, there are about 200 recognized species, as well as numerous hybrids and cultivars. Common names for species in this genus include fairy lily, rainflower, zephyr lily, magic lily, Atamasco lily, and rain lily.

<i>Zephyranthes carinata</i> Species of plant

Zephyranthes carinata, commonly known as the rosepink zephyr lily or pink rain lily, is a perennial flowering plant native to Mexico, Colombia and Central America. It is also widely cultivated as an ornamental and naturalized in the West Indies, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, the southeastern United States from Texas to Florida, Zimbabwe, South Africa, China, Korea, the Ryukyu Islands, Assam, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Queensland, Society Islands, Kiribati, and Caroline Islands.

<i>Sprekelia</i> Genus of plants

Sprekelia is a genus of Mesoamerican plants in the Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. Sprekelia plants are sometimes called Aztec lilies or Jacobean lilies although they are not true lilies. This genus has been submerged in Zephyranthes, but as of January 2023 is accepted by Plants of the World Online with a single species, Sprekelia formosissima, endemic to Mexico.

Habranthus (copperlily) was a formerly recognized genus of tender herbaceous flowering bulbs in the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the family Amaryllidaceae. It is now included within a more broadly circumscribed genus Zephyranthes. The genus was first identified by pioneering bulb enthusiast William Herbert in 1824.

<i>Rhodophiala</i> Former genus of flowering plants

Rhodophiala was a genus of herbaceous, perennial and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family. It consisted of about 30 South American species distributed in southern Brazil, Argentina, and, specially, in Chile. Most of the species are known colloquially as añañuca. It has now been submerged in Zephyranthes.

Zephyranthes puertoricensis, known commonly as the Puerto Rico zephyr lily, is a species of flowering plant in the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. It is native to the West Indies, Panama, Colombia, Suriname and Venezuela. It is a member of low elevation grasslands communities and moist forest habitat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink rain lily</span> Index of plants with the same common name

Pink rain lily, pink fairy lily, pink zephyr lily, and pink magic lily are the common names of several species of flowering plants belonging to the genera Zephyranthes and Habranthus :

<i>Zephyranthes rosea</i> Species of plant

Zephyranthes rosea, commonly known as the Cuban zephyrlily, rosy rain lily, rose fairy lily, rose zephyr lily or the pink rain lily, is a species of rain lily native to Peru and Colombia. They are widely cultivated as ornamentals and have become naturalized in tropical regions worldwide. Like all rain lilies, they are known for blooming only after heavy rains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hippeastreae</span> Tribe of flowering plants

Hippeastreae is a tribe of plants belonging to the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). Species in this tribe are distributed in South America. Flowers are large and showy, zygomorphic, with the stamens in varying lengths, inflorescence bracts are often fused basally. The seeds are flattened, winged or D-shaped. Reported basic chromosome numbers are x= 8-13, 17, and higher. All the species in this tribe present a remarkable aesthetic interest and horticultural value.

<i>Zephyranthes tubispatha</i> Species of flowering plant

Zephyranthes tubispatha, synonym Habranthus tubispathus, the Rio Grande copperlily or Barbados snowdrop, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is a perennial bulb native to southern South America. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental and reportedly naturalized in the southeastern United States, much of the West Indies as well as Bermuda, eastern Mexico, India, Easter Island, and central Chile.

<i>Pyrolirion</i> Genus of flowering plants

Pyrolirion, commonly known as fire lilies or flame lilies, is a small genus of herbaceous, bulb-forming South American plants in the Amaryllis family, native to Chile, Peru, and Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hippeastrinae</span> Subtribe of flowering plants

Hippeastrinae is a subtribe of plants classified under the tribe Hippeastreae. It belongs to the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae).

<i>Hippeastrum calyptratum</i> Species of flowering plant

Hippeastrum calyptratum is a flowering perennial herbaceous bulbous plant, in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to Brazil.

<i>Phycella</i> Genus of flowering plants

Phycella is a genus of herbaceous, perennial bulbous flowering plants belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. The genus consists of five species distributed from central Chile to northwestern Argentina.

<i>Zephyranthes chlorosolen</i> Species of plant

Zephyranthes chlorosolen, known by a number of common names including Drummond's rain‑lily, evening rain‑lily, evening star rain lily, Brazos rain‑lily, Texas rainlily, and cebolleta, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is found from Kansas to Mexico, and has been introduced to southern Brazil. A perennial typically 18 to 35 cm tall, its lone flower opens in the evening and lasts only a few days.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Zephyranthes robusta (Herb.) Baker". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  2. 1 2 Mathew, Brian (1987), The Smaller Bulbs, London: B.T. Batsford, ISBN   978-0-7134-4922-8 , p. 101
  3. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  4. Biota of North America Program
  5. Anderson Alves-Araújo; Julie Henriette Antoinette Dutilh; Marccus Alves (2009). "Amaryllidaceae s.s. e Alliaceae s.s. no Nordeste Brasileiro". Rodriguésia (in Portuguese). Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. 60 (2): 311–331. doi: 10.1590/2175-7860200960206 . ISSN   0370-6583.
  6. 1 2 3 José Luis Fernández-Alonso; Jeroen P. Groenendijk (2004). "A New Species of Zephyranthes Herb. S. L. (Amaryllidaceae, Hippeastreae), with Notes on the Genus in Colombia" (PDF). Rev. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. 28 (107): 177–186. ISSN   0370-3908. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  7. 1 2 García, Nicolás; Meerow, Alan W.; Arroyo‐Leuenberger, Silvia; Oliveira, Renata S.; Dutilh, Julie H.; Soltis, Pamela S. & Judd, Walter S. (2019). "Generic classification of Amaryllidaceae tribe Hippeastreae". Taxon. 68 (3): 481–498. doi:10.1002/tax.12062. S2CID   202854432.
  8. "Habranthus robustus Herb". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  9. "Rain Lily Log - June". YuccaDo Nursery Inc. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  10. Gary W. Knox (2005). "Rainlily, Zephyranthes and Habranthus spp.: Low Maintenance Flowering Bulbs for Florida Gardens" (PDF). Enh1151. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, University of Florida. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  11. "Katoch D and Singh B, Med Aromat Plants" (PDF).
  12. Lucie Cahlíková; Irena Valterová; Kateřina Macáková; Lubomír Opletal (2010). "Analysis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids from Zephyranthes grandiflora by GC/MS and their cholinesterase activity" (PDF). Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy (Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia). Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia. 5 (8): 1201–1204. ISSN   0102-695X . Retrieved August 7, 2011.