Nerine.
Family Amaryllidaceae > Subfamily Amaryllidoideae > Subtribe Strumariinae.
One of a number of plants known as a spider lily.
There are 20 to 30 species native to Africa but widely cultivated elsewhere.
Most seen, and most used for hybridising are Nerine bowdenii, N. sarniensis and N. undulata.
Perennial, evergreen or deciduous plants growing from bulbs.
Narrow leaves can be thread-like and up to 4 mm or strap-like from 6 to 37 mm wide.
They can be erect or prostrate.
In deciduous plants the inflorescence may appear before leaves regrow.
Inflorescence stalks, or scapes are solid and up to around 40 to 55 cm high.
There are 4 to 8 flowers at the top in a spherical umbel.
Flower buds are protected by 2 spathe-like bracts.
Flowers are 10 to 12 cm long on stalks that can be smooth or hairy.
The 6 tepals are joined at the base to form a straight or curved perianth tube.
The tepal lobes flare out, curl backwards and may be sometimes be twisted.
The edges are wavy or ruffled.
Colours are white or shades of pink and magenta or red.
The 6 stamens are inserted onto the base of the tepals.
Their bases are fused to form a short tube.
There may also be appendages at their base.
Stamens are unequal in length and may be straight or curved.
They are usually longer than the tepals.
The anthers are dorsifixed and move freely on the filament.
The inferior ovary has 3 locules with up to 4 ovules in each.
The thin style is straight or curved.
The fruit is a loculicidal capsule with seeds that may germinate before the capsule ruptures.
There are a number of hybrids.
J.F.
