Doryanthes

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Doryanthes (family Amaryllidaceae) A genus of large herbs that grow in big clumps. They have sword-shaped, radical leaves up to 2 m long, a thickened underground stem, and contractile roots. The flowers are in a large head or panicle on top of a thick stem up to 3.5 m long, and are lily-like and usually red, surrounded by brown bracts. The fruit is a 3-celled, woody capsule. The flat seeds germinate early and mature slowly, flowering only after several years. There are 2 species, endemic (see ENDEMISM) to the coastal areas of eastern Australia.

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