AMARYLLIDACEAE Daffodil (Amaryllis) Family | Family of perennial plants mostly from bulbs and some from rhizomes which are grouped in the flowering plant order Liliales, containing about 65 genera and at least 835 species, distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. While growing, the bulb is kept sufficiently deep below ground by special roots that lengthen and contract. Most often the leaves are strap-shaped and smooth but occasionally they have unusual shapes, markings and coverings. Amaryllidaceae usually have numerous flowers held in an umbrella-like cluster at the end of a leafless stem, called a scape. Flowers are frequently large and showy and vary from star-like to trumpet-shaped or tubular. Colours range from red, orange, yellow and pink to white, whereas bluish flowers are only found in Griffenia, Worsleya and Lycoris. They all produce nectar and are often heavily scented. Each flower has six segments (tepals), frequently arising from a long to short tube. six stamens are typical of the family, but some species have five stamens and some have multiple stamens with about 60 anthers. In Pancratium and Hymenocallis the stamens are fused to form a large cup, which resembles the corona in Narcissus. The ovary is inferior (i.e. located below the tepals) and carries a single style.
World-wide the Amaryllidaceae have greatest economic value as ornamentals. In addition, huge numbers of plants are traded for traditional medicines Major centres of diversity are South America (28 genera) and South Africa (18 genera). Southern Africa has 210 endemic Amaryllidaceae species. Namaqualand and the Cape Region together have 111 species and 77% of these are found nowhere else. |
