Hippeastrum aulicum


Hippeastrum aulicum, the Lily of the Palace, is a bulbous perennial, in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado ecoregions from Brazil to Paraguay, in South America.

Description

Hippeastrum aulicum is a bulbous epiphyte, growing on rocks and trees which has large scarlet flowers with a green throat, usually with four flowers to a stem. It blooms in late summer and autumn.

Taxonomy

Hippeastrum aulicum was first described by Ker Gawler in 1883.

Synonyms

See The Plant ListAmaryllis aulica Ker Gawl.Amaryllis aulica var. platypetala Lindl.Amaryllis heuseriana RavennaAmaryllis heuseriana f. campanulata RavennaAmaryllis robusta Otto & A.Dietr. Amaryllis rougieri CarrièreAmaryllis tettanii auct.Aulica latifolia Raf.Aulica platypetala Raf.Aulica striata Raf.Hippeastrum aulicum var. platypetalum Herb.Hippeastrum aulicum f. robustum VossHippeastrum heuserianum H.Karst.Hippeastrum robustum A.Dietr. ex Walp.Hippeastrum tweedianum Herb.Omphalissa aulica Salisb.Trisacarpis rubra Raf.

Etymology

The species name aulicum comes from the Latin, meaning 'princely'.

Cultivation

Hippeastrum aulicum is cultivated by specialty flower bulb nurseries as an ornamental plant.