Greek hippeus – rider, astron – star; meaning obscure.
Perennial herbs with bulbs. Flower clusters of 2-10 (mostly about 4) large flowers on hollow stalks. Perianth irregular, funnel-shaped. Bract spathes 2, large, equal, free, persistent. Stamens united and of 4 lengths, attached to the perianth tube. Corona absent. Ovary 3-chambered with few-many ovules. Fruit round to 3-lobed; seed flattened, black.
Some species are sometimes (as here) placed in Amaryllis, Rhodophiala (small-flowered species) and Brunsvigia. About half of the species of Hippeastrum are held in private collections in Australia but these are not generally available.
Offsets.
Leaves at ground level; bulb with little or no neck; flower stalk hollow; perianth large, funnel-shaped with the colourful lobes longer than the tube.
About 80 species from Central and South America.
Traub et al. (1964, cultivar list, later cultivars listed in Plant Life).
Source: (2005). Amaryllidaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
