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amaryllis

amaryllis

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

amaryllis , common name for some members of the Amaryllidaceae, a family of mostly perennial plants with narrow, flat leaves and with lilylike flowers borne on separate, leafless stalks. They are widely distributed throughout the world, especially in flatlands of the tropics and subtropics. Many ornamental plants of this family are mistakenly called lilies; they can be distinguished from members of the lily family (Liliaceae) by the anatomical placement of the ovary (see flower ) and are considered more advanced in evolution than the lilies. Sometimes the amaryllis family is included in the Liliaceae.

Several fragrant, showy-blossomed species are commonly called amaryllis: the true amaryllis ( Amaryllis belladonna ), or belladonna lily, of S Africa, and the more frequently cultivated tropical American species of Sprekelia, Lycoris, and especially Hippeastrum (e.g., the Barbados lily). The large Narcissus genus, including jonquils and daffodils, is native chiefly to the Mediterranean region, but it has been naturalized and is now widespread in the United States. Although the common names are sometimes used interchangeably, strictly the daffodil is the yellow N. pseudo-narcissus, with a long, trumpet-shaped central corona; the jonquil is the yellow N. jonquilla, with a short corona; and the narcissus is any of several usually white-flowered species, e.g., the poet's narcissus ( N. poetica ) with a red rim on the corona. The biblical rose of Sharon may have been a narcissus. Among many others that have become naturalized and are cultivated in Europe and North America are the snowdrops (any species of Galanthus ), small early-blooming plants of the Old World whose flowers are symbolic of consolation and of promise; and the tuberose ( Polianthes tuberosa ), a waxy-flowered Mexican plant.

Economically, the most important plants of the family are of the nonbulbous genus Agave, the tropical American counterpart of the African Aloe genus of the family Liliaceae (lily family). Different agaves provide soap (e.g., those called amoles—see soap plant ), food and beverages, and hard fiber. Henequen and sisal hemp are among the fibers obtained from agaves; fique and Cuban hemp come from other similar genera. Maguey is the Mexican name for various species (chiefly A. americana ) called American aloe, or century plant, that contain the sugar agavose, sometimes used medicinally but better known as the source of the popular alcoholic beverages pulque and mescal (or mezcal). The name "century plant" arises from the long intervals between bloomings—from 5 to 100 years. After blooming, the century plant dies back and is replaced by new shoots. The blue agave ( A. tequilana weber azul ) is the maguey used in making tequila. The agave cactus ( Leuchtenbergia principis ) is a true cactus that resembles the agave.

Amaryllis is classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Liliopsida, Lilliales, Amaryllidaceae.

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"amaryllis." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Narcissus

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | | Copyright

Narcissus (daffodils; family Amaryllidaceae) A genus of bulbous herbs whose regular flowers are borne singly or in groups on the tip of a leafless stem, and which have a papery spathe around the flower or flower group. The flowers have 6 similar perianth segments and also a cup or trumpet-shaped corona surrounding the stamens. Narcissus species are much cultivated (as wild species and as hybrids or cultivars) for the fine flowers. There are 27 species, occuring in Europe, western Asia, and N. Africa.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Narcissus." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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narcissus

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

nar·cis·sus / närˈsisəs/ • n. (pl. same, -cis·si / -ˈsisī; -sē/ , or -cissuses ) a bulbous Eurasian plant of a genus that includes the daffodil, esp. (in gardening) one with flowers that have white or pale outer petals and a shallow orange or yellow cup in the center. • Genus Narcissus, family Liliaceae (or Amaryllidaceae): many species and varieties, in particular N. poeticus.

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amaryllis

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

am·a·ryl·lis / ˌaməˈrilis/ • n. a bulbous plant of the lily family with showy white, pink, or red flowers and straplike leaves, in particular: ∎  a South African plant (Amaryllis belladonna), also called belladonna lily. ∎  a tropical South American plant that is frequently grown as a houseplant (hybrids of the genus Hippeastrum, formerly Amaryllis).

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Amaryllis

A Dictionary of First Names | 2006 | | Copyright

Amaryllis ♀ Of Greek origin and uncertain derivation, possibly from amaryssein ‘to sparkle’. It was borne in classical pastoral poetry, including Virgil's Eclogues, by a typical shepherdess or country girl. In modern times the name has probably sometimes been given because of association with the flower, named in the 19th century from the Arcadian heroine.
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Amaryllis." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Amaryllis." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Amaryllis.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Amaryllis." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Amaryllis.html

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Amaryllis

The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature | 2003 | | Copyright

Amaryllis, the name given to a shepherdess by Theocritus, Virgil, and Ovid. Spenser, in Colin Clouts Come Home Againe, uses the name to signify Alice, one of the daughters of Sir John Spencer of Althorp. She became the countess of Derby for whom Milton wrote his Arcades.
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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Amaryllis." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Amaryllis." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Amaryllis.html

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Amaryllis." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Amaryllis.html

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amaryllis

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

amaryllis Genus consisting of a single species of bulbous plant, Amaryllis belladona, the belladonna lily, which has several trumpet-shaped pink or white flowers. Amaryllis is also the common name for Hippeastrum, a bulbous houseplant.
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amaryllis

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

amaryllis genus of bulbous plants. XVIII. modl. (Linnaeus) use of L. Amaryllis, Gr. Amarullis typical name for a pretty country girl in Theocritus, Virgil, and Ovid.
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T. F. HOAD. "amaryllis." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "amaryllis." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-amaryllis.html

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Amaryllis

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

Amaryllis name of a shepherdess in the pastoral poetry of Virgil and Ovid, used by Milton in ‘Lycidas’ (1638).
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Amaryllis." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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narcissus

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

narcissus see amaryllis .

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amaryllis

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

amaryllis •Alice, chalice, challis, malice, palace, Tallis •aurora australis •Ellis, trellis •necklace •aurora borealis, Baylis, digitalis, Fidelis, rayless •ageless • aimless • keyless •amaryllis, cilice, Dilys, fillis, Phyllis •ribless • lidless • rimless •kinless, sinless, winless •lipless • witless • annus mirabilis •annus horribilis • syphilis •eyeless, skyless, tieless •polis, solace, Wallace •joyless •Dulles, portcullis •accomplice •Annapolis, Indianapolis, Minneapolis •Persepolis •acropolis, cosmopolis, Heliopolis, megalopolis, metropolis, necropolis •chrysalis • surplice • amice • premise •airmiss • Amis • in extremis • Artemis •promise •pomace, pumice •Salamis •dermis, epidermis, kermis

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Amaryllis featured in arboretum exhibit.
M2 Presswire; 12/12/2003
Miniature amaryllis for winter color: They bear more blooms than giant...
Magazine article from: Sunset; 12/1/2001
Amaryllis bulbs are fun and easy to grow indoors.(Home Garden)
Newspaper article from: Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL); 1/8/2012

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amaryllis. (Image by Stephen Lea, GFDL)

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