| Amaryllis | ||||||||||||
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Amaryllis (the name of a shepardess in classical Greek poetry) is a plant genus containing the belladonna lily[?] (Amaryllis belladonna), a native of South Africa, which was introduced into cultivation at the beginning of the 18th century. This is a half-hardy bulbous plant, producing in the spring a number of strap-shaped, dull green leaves, 1-1 1/2 ft. long, arranged in two rows, and in autumn one or two solid stems, each bearing at the top a cluster of 2-12 funnel-shaped flowers. Several forms are known in cultivation. Most of the so-called Amaryllis gardens belong to the allied genus Hippeastrum (q.v.).
Reference
- Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed