Amaryllidaceae
E. NASIR
National Herbarium, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad.
Plants with bulbs, corms or rhizomes. Leaves radical or cauline; linear to lanceolate. Flowers on a scape or on the main stem in clusters or sometimes solitary, hermaphrodite, rarely unisexual, regular or zygomorphic. Perianth of 6 tepals, free or slightly united at the base. Stamens 6, occasionally staminodal, sometimes with extensions forming a corona. Carpels 3, united, inferior. Placentation axile. Fruit capsular with loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds few to many.
A family of over 80 genera and 1000 species. Represented in Pakistan by 3 wild genera and 4 species. Besides these many other species are cultivated in Pakistan for their attractive flowers.
Besides these there are a number of species of Amaryllidaceae which are cultivated in gardens. Some of the more popular ones are:
Amaryllis vittata L’Herit., Sert. Angl, t. 15.1788.
This is probably the progenitor of the different varieties and forms of ‘Hippeastrums’. that are so popular and common in gardens (R. R. S., l.c.)
Crinum asiaticum Linn., Sp. Pl. 410.1750.
‘St. Johns Lily’ is occasionally planted in gardens.
Lycoris radiata (L’Herit.) Herbert in Append. Bot. Reg. 20.1821.
This ‘red spider Lily’ blooms in August-September. The long scaped red flowers appear before the leaves.
Narcissus tazetta Linn., Sp. Pl. 290-1753.
‘Narcissus’ is one of the most popular flowers during the winter months and commonly sold in the market. Vern.: ‘Nargis’.
Narcissus pseudo-narcissus Linn. Sp. Pl. 289.1753.
‘Daffodil’ is not so common as the previous one but is cultivated and blooms in early spring.
Pancratium verecundum Ait. Hort. Kew, 1:412.1789.
Cultivated in the plains for its white fragrant flowers which bloom in summer season.
Zephyranthes candida Herb. Bot. Mag. t. 2607.1825, and Zephyranthes rosea Lindl; Bot. Rep. 821.1824.
The white and the pink ‘Zephyr Lilies’ are commonly grown during the summer months.
Zephyranthes eggersiana Urb. Symb. Antill. 5:292.1907.
The yellow ‘zephyr lily’s is occasionally planted along garden borders. It blooms in the monsoon season.
Acknowledgements: We are grateful to the United States Department of Agriculture for financing this research under PL-480. Thanks are also due to Mr. I. C. Hedge of Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh for going through the manuscript.
