Paposoa
Paposoa laeta is the only species of the monotypic genus Paposoa in the family Amaryllidaceae endemic to northern and central Chile.Description
Vegetative characteristics
Paposoa laeta is a bulbous, over 10 cm tall plant with ovoid, tunicate bulbs bearing flat, linear, 30–60 cm long, and 5–9 mm wide leaves.Generative characteristics
The inflorescence with a hollow, 10–30 cm long, and 2–4 mm wide scape bears 1–7 violet to purple, zygomorphic flowers. The flowers have 6 tepals. The androecium consists of 6 stamens. The gynoecium consists of 3 carpels. The trilocular capsule fruit bears flat, shiny, black seeds.Cytology
The chromosome count is 2n = 16.Taxonomy
It was described as Rhodophiala laeta by Rodolfo Amando Philippi in 1860. A new genus Eremolirion was described by Nicolás García Berguecio in 2019, but due to confusion with the similarly named Eremiolirion , a new genus Paposoa and species Paposoa laeta was required and published by García in 2020. Within the tribe Hippeastreae, it is placed in the subtribe Traubiinae.Etymology
The generic name Paposoa refers to Paposo, Chile. The specific epithet laeta means bright,Distribution and habitat
It occurs in the Atacama and Antofagasta regions, where it is found in desert and desert fog oases.Conservation
It has a restricted habitat and distribution.