AMARYLLIS FAMILY. AmarylUdacex. 



AMARYLLIS FAMILY. Amaryllidacece. 



Perennial herbs, with generally showy, perfect flow- 

 ers with stamens and pistil having six generally equal 

 divisions of the flower-cup. Mostly fertilized hy bees, 

 the beelike flies (Syrphidce), and small butterflies (Hes- 

 peria). 



Leaves somewhat thick, blunt, and 

 shining deep green, long and straight. 

 Atamasco The flower perfect with six stamens and 



Pink or white a pistil, the former very much shorter 

 April-July tnan tlie fl ower . cll p. The flower-cup is 

 symmetrical and divided into six distinct lobes, crimson 

 pink, white with a magenta tinge, or white ; it is rarely 

 eight-lobed. Unquestionably the plant is cross-fertilized 

 by insects, chiefly by bees, tho honeybee (Apis mellifiea) 

 visiting the flower most frequently, and generally early 

 in the morning. The low position of the anthers in the 

 flower-tube makes it impossible for the bee to pass them 

 without powdering herself with pollen. The name is 

 from the Latin and Greek, Zephyrus, the west wind, 

 and avQoS, a flower. The fruit is a depressed capsule. 

 6-15 inches high. In moist localities. Del. to Fla. and 

 Ala. 



The leaves are deep green, linear, grass- 

 Hypoxis l*ke, and covered with hairs. The perfect 



erecta flower is six-parted, with six stamens of 



Yellow unequal lengths ; it is deep yellow inside, 



April-July an( j hairy and greenish outside. There 

 are perhaps three flowers at the top of the hairy stalk, 

 which, by a plentiful supply of pollen, attract both 

 smaller bees (Halictus) and smaller butterflies, notably 

 the Meadow Fritillary (Brenthis bellona). Prof. Robert- 

 son says the plant depends mostly upon the genus 

 Halictus for fertilization, and that it is self- as well as 

 cross-fertilized. Hypoxis is commonly found in the 

 meadow grass, in dry situations. The name is of Greek 

 origin, alluding to some unknown plant with sour 

 leaves. 3-6 inches high. Me. , south, west to Minn. , E. 

 Kan., and Tex. 



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