ATAMASCO-LILY 



Atamosco atamasco (Linnaeus) Greene 



Springing from the brown bed of the southern forest, no love- 

 lier flower graces the awakening of spring than the atamasco-lily, 

 a member of the Amaryllis Family. Blooming as it does in many 

 places about Easter time, it is widely known in the South as "Easter 

 lily." Great bunches of the flowers are gathered to decorate homes 

 and churches, but since the bulbs are not disturbed, the plants are 

 not injured. A few long grass-like leaves grow from the bulb, and 

 above them the flower stem, bearing the beautiful white flower, 

 which sometimes is shaded delicately with pale pink. The thrill 

 that comes when the flowers are discovered for the first time will 

 long be remembered, for a patch of moist open woods starred with 

 hundreds of the blossoms is a beautiful sight. 



Atamasco-lily ranges from Florida and Alabama northward to 

 southeastern Virginia. It has been reported also from Pennsylvania, 

 but has not been found in that state in recent years. By some bota- 

 nists the plant is known as Zephyranthes atamasco. 



The flowers sketched were obtained near Yemassee, South Caro- 

 lina. 



PLATE 2.55 



