Zephyranthes.
Family Amaryllidaceae s.l. > Subfamily Amaryllidoideae > Subtribe Hippeastrinae or Zephyranthinea.
Commonly known as Rainflower, Storm or Zephyr lilies there are about 70 (60-80) species.
Habranthus and Zephyranthes are very similar in appearance and both are known as Rain lilies.
Habranthus have flowers pointing up at angle, sepal lobes of slightly different sizes
and stamens that are of 4 different lengths.
Zephryanthus flowers point up, sepals lobes are equal and stamens are equal or of 2 different lengths.
Zephryanthes grow from bulbs and the offsets form clumps 15 to 30 cm high.
They tend to flower a few days after rain in spring and summer.
They are widely cultivated and in some areas have become naturalised.
They can be evergreen or deciduous.
The green basal leaves are thin and grass-like or wider and covered in a bluish-white coating.
Some can have a bronze tint.
The hollow inflorescence stems hold 1 stalked flower that points straight up.
There is a single spathe-like bract that sheaths the stalk and may be forked at the top.
The funnel-shaped flowers have 6 tepals with bases that are sometimes fused into a tube.
The tepal lobes are all of equal size and shape.
The lobes may form a cup shape or be flat (star-shaped) or slightly bent back.
Flowers are white or shades of pink, yellow or red that may fade as the flower ages.
Each flower only lasts a few days.
The 6 stamens are inserted onto the tepal bases or the top of a perianth tube.
They are all of equal length or in 2 sets of 3 with one set longer than the other.
The ovary is inferior and has 3 locules.
The style holds a stigma that can be 3 lobed or capitate.
Fruit are loculicidal capsules holding black seeds that are mostly flat.
The numerous hybrids and cultivars add more colours and striped multicoloured flowers.
Zephyranthes candida and Z. grandiflora are found in south-eastern Queensland.
J.F.
