Habranthus – Rain Lily.
Family Amaryllidaceae > Subfamily Amaryllidoideae > tribe Hippeastreae.
Commonly known as Rain Lilies there are 30 to 35 species.
Previously classified with the Zephyranthes.
Evergreen or deciduous plants growing from bulbs with a black or brown protective coat.
Narrow linear or strap-like leaves, under 2 cm wide, are erect to prostrate.
The often appear after the flowers.
The hollow inflorescence stalk holds 1 (occasionally 2 – 4) flowers.
The base of the spathe-like bract sheaths the stem.
The flowers face outwards and slightly up and sometimes have small bracteoles.
They flower in summer to autumn a few days after good rain.
Bulbs can produce a number of flowers during the season.
They have 6 tepals basally fused into a short perianth tube.
Flowers are up to 8 cm long with slightly irregular perianth lobes.
The 6 stamens insert onto the top of the perianth tube.
Filaments are thin and the bases may be slightly fused into bundles.
They are of 4 different lengths and curved towards the ends.
The linear anthers are dorsifixed and usually held parallel to the flower.
The inferior ovary holds a thin style with a 3-lobed stigma.
The fruit are capsules with 3 chambers holding numerous shiny seeds.
The black to brown seeds are D-shaped, slightly winged and flat.
Three species seen in Australia are Habranthus brachyandrus and H. robustus with
pink flowers and H. tubispathus with yellow or orange-yellow flowers.
Habranthus brachyandrus.
Another plant known as a Pink Rain Lily.
It grows from a bulb with grey-green leaves to 30 cm long by 12 mm wide.
Inflorescence stalks hold 1 pale pink to white flower with a deep purplish base.
Flowers are up to 10 cm long.
Habranthus tubispathus.
Known as the Copper Lily.
The dull green leaves only 4 mm wide usually appear after the flowers.
Inflorescence stalks to 20 cm long, with a spathe-like bract to 3 cm long, hold 1 flower.
The flower stalk is only a few mms long and holds the flower at a slightly upright angle.
The 6 tepals, under 4 cm long, are fused at the base into a short green perianth tube.
Tepal lobes are bright yellow or orange-yellow sometimes with reddish colouring outside.
Anthers are 1 to 2 cm long and the style is about the same.
The stigma has 3 linear lobes.
Habranthus robustus is shown separately.
J.F.
