Hippeastrum AMARYLLIDACEAE Lycoris 



the segments 6 - Crinum 



A A. Perianth with a crown which appears like an extra corolla 7. Narcissus 



1. Hippeastrum Herb. ,t§J[/p (Ma Hsing Ho) 

 Bulbous herbs with hollow scape and strap-shaped basal lvs. : fls. large and showy, 

 nearly regular, 2-several in an umbel on top of the stout leafless scape; spathe of 2 

 separate valves; tube of the perianth shorter than the segments; stamens of 4 different 

 lengths: fr. a 3-valved loculicidal capsule; seeds black, compressed. 60-70 species in 

 tropics of the western hemisphere; one or more cultivated in China. (Greek: hippcus, 

 horseman, and astron, star.) 



1. Hippeastrum johnsonii Bury (B.C. 1494). Stout scape, 6-8 dm. high; fls. red, 

 VI-VII; perianth segment with a white stripe on the keel. Hybrid; locally in Ku. 

 Planted, ornamental. Fig. 486. 



2. Lycoris Herb. Spider-Lily Hwi ( shih Suan Shu ) 

 Bulbous herbs with solid scape and narrow basal lvs. which are gone before the 

 lis. appear in late summer or autumn: fls. in an umbel at the top of the scape; 

 perianth funnel-shaped, quite irregular; the segments oblanceolate, clawed, united into 

 a short tube below; stamens inserted on the perianth segments near the throat; the 

 filaments bent or curved: fr. a 3-celled capsule. About 6 species, in China and Japan; 

 5 in China. (Greek: the name of a sea nymph.) 



Key to the Species 

 a. Stamens much longer than the perianth: perianth red; segments 

 strongly recurved, 5 mm. wide and 30 mm. long, with crisped 

 margins; tube very short; scales in throat very small: fig. scape 



3-5 dm. high 1- L - radiata 



aa. Stamens about equal to the perianth: perianth variously colored; 



segments more or less recurved, 5-15 mm. wide, margins crisped 



or smooth; tube 5-50 mm. long; scaly corona sometimes wanting: 



fig. scape 5-10 dm. high. 



b. Perianth segments with crisped margins; color pale yellow to 



almost white (rarely deep orange); scaly corona present, scales 



yellow or whitish: fls. 7-9 cm. long (4-5 cm. long in early-fig. 



form): fig. scape 6-8 dm. high 2 - L - aurea 



bb. Perianth segments with smooth margins, variously colored. 



With yellow-scaly corona at top of perianth tube ; perianth rose- 

 red, becoming tinged with lilac or blue; tube 12-20 mm. 



long; segments 12-17 mm. wide; fls. 6-9cm. long 3. L.squamigera 



Without scaly corona at top of perianth tube; segments 4-6 mm. 

 wide, bright red; tube 6-10 mm. long: scape 4-5 dm. high: 

 fls. 5 cm. long 4 - L - sanguinea 



A form has been found in the vicinity of Shanghai which, though allied to L. sqvamigera 

 differs from it in having perianth segments pure white; tube greenish, 40-50 mm. long, equaling 

 the segments; fls. 10-11 cm. long. Upon further study this form may prove to be an undes- 

 cribed species. 



1. Lycoris radiata (L'Herit.) Herb. Red Spider-Lily Hlf. (Shih Suan; Rock Garlic) 

 (Mak.F. 722). Fig. scape before the lvs. 3-4 dm. high; fls. red, VIII-IX. Eastern 



521 



