Zephyranthes rosea, commonly known as the Cuban zephyrlily, rosy rain lily, rose fairy lily, rose zephyr lily or the pink rain lily, is a species of rain lily native to Peru and Colombia. They are widely cultivated as ornamentals and have become naturalized in tropical regions worldwide. Like all rain lilies, they are known for blooming only after heavy rains.
| Cuban zephyr lily | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Amaryllidoideae |
| Genus: | Zephyranthes |
| Species: | Z. rosea
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| Binomial name | |
| Zephyranthes rosea | |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
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They contain potentially lethal toxins.
Description
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Zephyranthes rosea are perennial herbaceous monocots. They are small plants, reaching only 15 to 20 cm (5.9 to 7.9 in) in height.[3] They bear five to six narrow and flattened dark green linear leaves, about 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in) wide, from spherical tunicate bulbs around 1.5 to 2.5 centimetres (0.59 to 0.98 in) in diameter.[4][5][6]
The single funnel-shaped flowers are borne erect or slightly inclined on scapes around 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in) long. The spathes are around 2 to 2.8 cm (0.79 to 1.10 in) long and slightly divided only at the tip.[7] The fragrant six-petaled flowers are around 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in diameter and 3 to 3.5 cm (1.2 to 1.4 in) in length. The perianth is bright pink with a green central perianth tube that is less than 5 mm (0.20 in) long.[5][8][9] The six stamens are of different lengths – one of 11 mm (0.43 in), one of 16 mm (0.63 in), and four between 12 and 13 mm (0.47 and 0.51 in).[5] They are shorter than the style and inserted at the mouth of the perianth.[7] The anthers are 3 to 6 mm (0.12 to 0.24 in) long.[10]
The flowers develop into capsules that are divided deeply into three lobes.[11] The seeds are shiny black and flattened.[4]
Classification
editZephyranthes rosea belongs to the genus Zephyranthes (rain lilies) of the subtribe Zephyranthinea of the tribe Hippeastreae.[12] It is classified under the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). In broader classifications, they are sometimes included within the lily family (Liliaceae).[13]
Nomenclature
editZephyranthes rosea (like other rain lilies) are so named because they produce short-lived flowers only after seasonal heavy rains or storms.[5][14][15] In Z. rosea, this usually occurs during the late summer.[16][17] The generic name Zephyranthes literally means "flowers of the west wind", from Greek ζέφυρος (zéphuros, the god of the west wind) and ἄνθος (anthos, 'flower').[18] Zephyrus, the Greek personification of the west wind, is also associated with rainfall.[16] The specific name comes from Latin for 'rosy'.
Other common names of Z. rosea include 'pink rain lily', 'pink fairy lily', 'pink magic lily', 'pink zephyr lily', 'rain flower', and 'rose rain lily'.[19][20][21] It is also commonly known as duende rojo ('red dwarf') and leli de San Jose in Spanish;[4] and rosafarbene and Windblume in German.[13]
Zephyranthes rosea is one of the two Zephyranthes species known as the 'pink rain lily'. The other species is Zephyranthes carinata, usually referred to incorrectly as Zephyranthes grandiflora. Z. carinata is often mislabeled as Z. rosea by merchants.[16][22] Z. carinata can be distinguished from true Z. rosea by their much larger flowers with a deeper pink coloration.[23][24][25] Z. rosea also has 24 chromosomes in diploid somatic cells, in contrast to 48 in Z. carinata.[26]
Another similar species known under the same common names is Zephyranthes robusta. They can be differentiated from Z. rosea by having paler pink and larger flowers.
Distribution and habitat
editZephyranthes rosea is native to Peru and Colombia. It is widely planted in warmer regions around the world and is reportedly naturalized in Florida, India, the West Indies, many of the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans[13][27] They are common in recently disturbed land and grassy areas (like lawns and meadows) that receive periodical rainfall.[8][9][28]
Uses
editZephyranthes rosea are usually propagated by dividing clumps of bulbs, but can also be grown from seeds. They are widely cultivated as ornamental plants.[7] They are relatively low-maintenance, becoming dormant during extended periods of drought. They are less tolerant of colder temperatures than other species of Zephyranthes, however.[16]
In India, they are also used in folk medicine, along with Zephyranthes flava.[29]
Toxicity
editThe bulbs of Z. rosea, like other members of Zephyranthes and Habranthus, contain various toxic alkaloids including lycorine and haemanthamine.[30] They can cause vomiting, convulsions, and death to humans, livestock, and poultry.[16]
Pests and diseases
editPests of Z. rosea include chewing insects. They are also vulnerable to the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea.[17]
See also
edit
- Zephyranthes atamasca – the Atamasco lily
- Zephyranthes candida – the white rain lily
- Zephyranthes puertoricensis – the Puerto Rican zephyr lily
- Habranthus – a closely related genus
References
edit- ^ "Zephyranthes rosea Lindl". Tropicos.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Zephyranthes rosea Lindl". The Plant List. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Kirti Mathura (2007). The Arizona Low Desert Flower Garden: A Seasonal Guide to Bloom, Height, Color, and Texture. Gibbs Smith. p. 134. ISBN 978-1-58685-896-4.
- ^ a b c Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez & Mark T. Strong (2005). "Monocotyledons and Gymnosperms of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands" (PDF). Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. 52. Smithsonian Institution: 1–415. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 27, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ a b c d José Luis Fernández-Alonso & Jeroen P. Groenendijk (2004). "A New Species of Zephyranthes Herb. S. L. (Amaryllidaceae, Hippeastreae), with Notes on the Genus in Colombia" (PDF). Rev. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. 28 (107): 177–186. ISSN 0370-3908. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Zephyranthes rosea Lindl". Hortus Camdensis. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ a b c Stuart Max Walters (1986). The European Garden Flora: Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae, Angiospermae. Cambridge University Press. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-521-24859-4.
- ^ a b Rita Buchanan & Roger Holmes (2001). Taylor's Master Guide to Gardening. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 521. ISBN 978-0-618-15907-9.
- ^ a b David W. Nellis (1997). Poisonous plants and animals of Florida and the Caribbean. Pineapple Press Inc. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-56164-111-6.
- ^ "Zephyranthes rosea Lindley, Bot. Reg. 10: plate 821. 1824". Flora of North America, eFloras.org. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Zephyranthes rosea (Spreng.) Lindl., Bot. Reg. 10: t. 821 (1824)". Flora of Australia Online, Australian Biological Resources Study. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Pascal Vigneron. "Hippeastreae". Amaryllidaceae.org. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Zephyranthes rosea Lindl". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Zephyranthes rosea". College of Micronesia – FSM. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "The Rain Lily". Types of Lilies. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Gary W. Knox (2005). "Rainlily, Zephyranthes and Habranthus spp.: Low Maintenance Flowering Bulbs for Florida Gardens" (PDF). Enh1151. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, University of Florida. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ a b Edward F. Gilman (1999). "Rainlily, Zephyranthes spp" (PDF). Fact Sheet FPS-621. IFAS Extension, University of Florida. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Bobby J. Ward. "Flowers of the West Wind: Rain Lilies". www.bobbyjward.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Zephyranthes rosea Lindl. – Cuban zephyrlily". USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Zephyranthes rosea". Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, Institute for Systematic Botany. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Rose Rain Lily". Cook Islands Biodiversity & Natural Heritage. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Zephyranthes grandiflora". Gay Gardener. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ William Lanier Hunt (1992). Southern Gardens, Southern Gardening. Duke University Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-8223-1223-9.
- ^ "Zephyranthes grandiflora Lindl". Zanthan Plant Profile. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Zephyranthes grandiflora Lindl". Hortus Camdenensis. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Puangpaga Soontornchainaksang & Kanyarat Chaiyasut (1996). "Cytogenetic study of Some Thai Species of Flowering Plants" (PDF). Thai For. Bull. (Bot.). 24: 50–61. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 16, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Zephyranthes rosea Lindl". Discover Life. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ Lucie Cahlíková; Irena Valterová; Kateřina Macáková & Lubomír Opletal (2010). "Analysis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids from Zephyranthes grandiflora by GC/MS and their cholinesterase activity" (PDF). Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy (Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia). 5 (8). Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia: 1201–1204. ISSN 0102-695X. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Julia F. Morton (1962). "Ornamental Plants With Toxic And/Or Irritant Properties. II" (PDF). Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society. 75. Florida State Horticultural Society: 484–491. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2011.