Zephyranthes bifida
| Zephyranthes bifida | |
|---|---|
| Zephyranthes bifida flower | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Amaryllidoideae |
| Genus: | Zephyranthes |
| Species: | Z. bifida
|
| Binomial name | |
| Zephyranthes bifida | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
List
| |
Zephyranthes bifida, formerly Rhodophiala bifida[3] and commonly the oxblood lily[3] or schoolhouse lily,[4] is a species of bulbous,[5] terrestrial herb[1] in the family Amaryllidaceae native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay.[2] it is cultivated in the Southern United States as an ornamental plant for its pink to red flowers.
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Zephyranthes bifida is a 15–40 cm tall, bulbous,[5] terrestrial herb[1] with ovoid to globose bulbs and green, linear, 15–30 cm long, and 3–7 mm wide leaves with an obtuse apex.[5]
Generative characteristics
The androecium consists of 6 stamens.[1] The stigma is trifid. The capsule fruit is 1.2–3 cm wide.[6]
Cytology
The chromosome count is 2n = 16 or 2n = 18.[5]
Taxonomy
It was first published as Habranthus bifidus Herb. by William Herbert in 1825.[7] Long known as and still often called Rhodophiala bifida,[8] it was placed into the genus Zephyranthes Herb. as Zephyranthes bifida (Herb.) Nic.García & Meerow by Nicolás García Berguecio and Alan W. Meerow in 2019.[2] It is placed in the monotypic subgenus Zephyranthes subg. Neorhodophiala.[5]
Distribution
It is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay.[2]
Cultivation
Z. bifida is found in cultivation.[9][10] In the U.S., plants were first imported from Argentina popularized by a German immigrant to the Texas Hill Country.[4] From Texas, they were distributed throughout the South as an heirloom plant.[4] The cultivar from Texas, sometimes called 'Hill Country Red',[8] typically has dark red flowers (hence the name oxblood lily)[9] with flowers blooming with autumn rains[4] before the appearance of leaves.[4][9]
References
- ^ a b c d Dutilh, J. H. A., Campos-Rocha, A., Garcia, N., Streher, N. S., Semir, J., Meerow, A. W., Giussani, L. M., Oliveira, R. S., Sassone, A. B., & Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. (n.d.). Zephyranthes bifida (Herb.) Nic. García & Meerow. Flora E Funga Do Brasil. Retrieved February 6, 2025, from https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB611333
- ^ a b c d Zephyranthes bifida (Herb.) Nic.García & Meerow. Plants of the World Online. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77207323-1
- ^ a b Grant, Greg (2011). "A Garden in a Wilderness: German Influence". In Welch, William C.; Grant, Greg (eds.). Heirloom Gardening in the South: Yesterday's Plants for Today's Gardens. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-60344-213-8.
- ^ a b c d e Welch, William C. (2011). "Naturalizing Daffodils and Other Southern Bulbs". In Welch, William C.; Grant, Greg (eds.). Heirloom Gardening in the South: Yesterday's Plants for Today's Gardens. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-60344-213-8.
- ^ a b c d e García, N., Meerow, A. W., Arroyo‐Leuenberger, S., Oliveira, R. S., Dutilh, J. H., Soltis, P. S., & Judd, W. S. (2019). Generic classification of Amaryllidaceae tribe Hippeastreae. Taxon, 68(3), 481-498.
- ^ Macaya-Berti, J., Teillier, S., & Serra, M. T. (n.d.). Zephyranthes bifida (Herb.) - Nic. Garcia & Meerow. Enciclopedia Ilustrada De Las Especies De Plantas Exóticas Que Se Cultivan En Chile. Retrieved February 7, 2025, from http://www.chlorischile.cl/enciclopedia%20macaya/enciclopedia-angiospermas/Amaryllidaceae/rhodophiala%20bifida.htm
- ^ Habranthus bifidus Herb. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved January 28, 2025, from https://www.ipni.org/n/64596-1
- ^ a b Ruhren, Doug (12 September 2024). "Hill Country Red Perfection". Juniper Level Botanic Garden website. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
- ^ a b c Rhodophiala. (n.d.). Pacific Bulb Society. Retrieved January 28, 2025, from https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/rhodophiala
- ^ Rhodophiala bifida - plant of the month sept 2014. (2014, September). Alpine Garden Society. Retrieved January 28, 2025, from http://archive.alpinegardensociety.net/plants/plant-portraits/Rhodophiala%20bifida%20plant%20of%20the%20month%20sept%20/98/