Zephyranthes formosissima
Zephyranthes formosissima, also known as Aztec lilies or Jacobean lilies, is a species of bulbous perennial herb in the family Amaryllidaceae endemic to Mexico. After its former genus Sprekelia has been merged into the genus Zephyranthes in 2019, it was formally transferred to Zephyranthes in 2024.
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Zephyranthes formosissima is a bulbous, perennial herb with ovate to globose, up to 5 cm wide, long-necked bulbs, bearing 3–6 annual, strap-shaped, linear, bright green, sometimes glaucous, up to 50 cm long, and 2 cm wide leaves. The bulbs produce offsets. The roots are fibrous.Generative characteristics
The 1–2 flowered, but usually solitary inflorescence with a hollow, 40–70 cm tall scape has zygomorphic, bright red flowers. The flowers has 6 tepals. The androecium consists of 6 stamens. The gynoecium consists of 3 carpels. The stigma is trifid. The triangular 1.5–2.7 cm wide capsule fruit bears black, flat, winged, 9–11 mm long, and 6.5–8 mm wide seeds.Cytology
Various chromosome counts have been observed: 2n = 60, 120, 150, 180.Taxonomy
It was first published as Amaryllis formosissima by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. A new genus Sprekelia was created by Lorenz Heister in 1748, honouring Johann Heinrich von Spreckelsen, who supplied the plants to Lorenz Heister. Heister however did not transfer any species to the new genus. It was placed into the genus Sprekelia as Sprekelia formosissima by William Herbert in 1821.The genus Sprekelia was merged into Zephyranthes, due to genetic analyses. As Sprekelia is the earlier name than Zephyranthes, it was proposed to conserve Zephyranthes against Sprekelia. Upon acceptance of this proposal, Sprekelia formosissima was merged into Zephyranthes as Zephyranthes formosissima published by Zhen-Hao Feng in 2024. It is placed in the tribe Hippeastreae.