
Amaryllis belladonna grows in the South Western Cape. The
bulb is typically large, brown and rounded and has a moderate growth
rate. The large clusters of scented, trumpet-shaped pink or white
flowers are carried on a long purplish-red and green stem appearing
50cm above the soil. Up to twelve flowers are produced from the
flowering stem. These flowers are 10cm long and apically flare open
about 8cm. Protruding from each flower is a long upturned style
amongst a group of large curved anthers. The anthers are black and
shiny at first, but split open to reveal masses of sticky white
pollen. The inflorescence tends to face the direction that receives
the most sun. Although most flowers are pale pink, white and dark
pink forms occur.
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The strap-like leaves are deciduous and are produced after flowering.
The leaves remain green throughout the winter period. The leaves
produce a starch, which is stored in the bulb. In summer the leaves
die back and the bulb becomes dormant. This strange phenomenon of
flowering before the leaves appear is known as hysteranthy. The
belladonna lily's specific flowering time is late summer, February
and March.

Amaryllis is Greek feminine and is named after a beautiful
shepherdess. The specific epithet belladonna means beautiful
lady. The appearance of the tall, flower stalk without any leaves
accounts for the common name "naked lady". Amaryllis
belladonna in its natural habitat is found in small dense groups
among rocks. Therefore the best place to plant them would be in
a rock garden. In a created landscape, Amaryllis can be used mixed
in between blue Agapanthus as a good combination, as the evergreen
leaves of the Agapanthus provide skirts for the naked ladies. They
can also be grown between a ground cover or mixed annual or herbaceous
border.
Growing Amaryllis belladonna
The cultivation of Amaryllis belladonna requires very little
attention. Amaryllis belladonna can be grown from seed. The
soft fleshy white to pink seed should be planted when fresh. Dispersal
of seed in winter is normally by wind. Seed dispersal is timed to
coincide with the first winter rains in late March and April. Germination
can occur in two weeks, but seedlings require three to six years
or longer to flower. Large clumps of bulbs can be divided from the
mother bulb during the dormant period. The bulbs and offsets can
be planted immediately. The bulbs must be planted with their necks
at soil level. The belladonna lily can also be grown in large pots
using a very porous soil mix. The bulb can also tolerate quite arid
conditions. In cultivation flowers are produced almost every year
but in the fynbos they emerge prolifically after fires.
There is still some mystery as to what pollinates the March lily.
Rudolf Marloth, a famous amateur botanist, believed that the belladonna
lily was being pollinated by a hawk moth. It was also noticed that
large carpenter bees visited the flowers during the day. On the
Cape Peninsula, at least, it seems that bees are the main pollinators
of the March lily. Amaryllis belladonna is often attacked
by a highly destructive black and yellow striped caterpillar called
lily borer. The caterpillar bores into the leaves and stem of the
lily causing the flowering stem to collapse. The caterpillar eventually
enters the bulb. The caterpillars can be removed by hand or the
affected foliage can be cut off.
The family Amaryllidaceae forms a large group of over sixty genera,
which are mainly centred in the southern Africa with smaller distributions
in Andean South America. Other genera that belong to this family
that have horticultural importance and are found in southern Africa
include Clivia, Crinum, Cyrthanthus, Nerine and Scadoxus.
Hippeastrum, which some gardeners mistakenly call amaryllis, is
a large South American genus. Other northern hemisphere genera include
Narcissus (daffodils) and Leucojum.
References
- Johnson, S D & Snijman D A, Veld & Flora, Amaryllis
belladona, September 1996
- Doutt, R L, 1994. Cape Bulbs, Timber Press.
- Duncan G D, 2000. Kirstenbosch Gardening Series, Grow Bulbs,
NBI
- Barnhoorn, F, 1995. Growing Bulbs in Southern Africa, Southern
Book Publishers
Author: T. Adams
Kirstenbosch
March 2001
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