Also known as: Amaryllis Lily, August Lily, Belladonna Lily, Jersey Lily, March Lily, Naked Lady, and Resurrection Lily
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Origin: The Western Cape region of South Africa
Nifty Nugget of Knowledge: The genus Amaryllis comes from the Greek word amarysso, meaning ‘to sparkle’ with their bulbs blooming for up to 75 years.
The stunning Amaryllis flowers are often associated with beauty, love, pride, and strength, and given to others in celebration of success or to symbolize determination. (And, from a practical standpoint, their blooms’ long vase life makes them great for cut flower arrangements.)
This bulbous plant is renowned for its fragrant, trumpet-shaped, pink flowers that bloom on leafless stalks in late summer. That – most apt and, in years of yore, scandalous alternative name of Naked Lady, refers to its unique characteristic of flowering before the leaves emerge.
Feminine mystique, allure, and (ultimate) charm over men permeate its history. In fact, its very name, Amaryllis, comes from a Greek legend.
Such was the name of a fair nymph who fell hopelessly in love with a handsome shepherd, Alteo. But to her great chagrin, he seemed oblivious of her. An early, bean-headed botanist, apparently, he was only interested in flowers!
On the advice of the oracle of Delphi, she visited his cottage daily, piercing her heart with an arrow so that drops of blood fell to the ground. On the 30th day, beautiful flowers appeared where her blood had fallen. This got Alteo’s attention, and he – finally – fell in love with the fair maiden. (As fellow writer of all things plants – Laidback Gardener – counseled– “Don’t try this at home!”)
And with an eye to the light emanating from the bulb of enlightenment, here are some relevant facts regarding that from which these very flowers stem (yes, pun intended):
Taken care of properly, their bulbs can re-bloom year after year, sometimes for decades (like a family heirloom, I’ve heard of particularly prized plants that annually present flowers of such significant beauty that they’ve been passed from one generation to another; the larger the bulbs, the bigger and more abundant the blooms; and, they naturally reproduce by forming ‘daughter’ bulbs alongside their ‘mother’ begging the question as to whether Papa Amaryllis is rooting is away in some dirty ordeal elsewhere!
Actually, my silliness aside, the Amaryllis plant generally contains both male and female reproductive organs with, and you may remember this from high school biology, the female part is called the pistil, and the male part is called the stamen.
A hint: To optimize the chances of superior flowering, many Amaryllis varieties require a dormant period in autumn to flower properly later. Thus, I encourage keeping the amaryllis bulbs cool and dry at around 50-59° (F) – 10-15° (C), for 6-8 weeks. This allows a slowdown of growth, preparing them for enhanced blooming.
But are they more than just a pretty face?
In Andean South America, the Mediterranean, and South Africa, the Amaryllis belladonna is said to have been used, ethnomedicinally, in the treatment of cancer. In southern Lesotho, various parts of it are used to treat colds, coughs, and as an external application or wash for wounds, hemorrhoids, and scrofula. It is also used by the Zulu, Xhosa, and Sotho people as a remedy for gynecological problems.
It would seem that, with the exception of its leaves, all parts of the Amaryllis have medicinal qualities. The bulb is emetic and purgative. When crushed in water, boiled, or roasted, it is used in the treatment of stomachaches.
Alkaloids within it have properties to fight against malaria. Some of its alkaloids have antiviral, anti-tumoral, and analgesic effects.
The root is emetic (can cause vomiting) and a laxative, as well as being used for the treatment of asthma and biliousness, while an infusion of the flowers is anti-spasmodic.
And even during the Civil War, the United States Army’s standard supply table cited it for treating neuralgias, whooping cough, and spasmodic asthma.
But hold everything! Stop! Wait! Before stocking up your medicine cabinet with them, be aware that Amaryllis plants are toxic. And – while primarily concerned with ingestion – the sap can cause skin irritation in some sensitive individuals.
However, though various cultures have used it somehow/someway medicinally, its bulbs are toxic, containing lycorine, which can cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting if ingested incorrectly. So, indeed, research this in much greater depth and consult trusted, more knowledgeable individuals before self-medicating.
