Zephyranthes subg. Habranthus is a subgenus within the genus Zephyranthes in the family Amaryllidaceae.[3][1] It was a formerly recognized as a separate genus of tender herbaceous flowering bulbs in the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the family Amaryllidaceae.[4] It is now included within a more broadly circumscribed genus Zephyranthes. The genus was first identified by pioneering bulb enthusiast William Herbert in 1824.

Description

Zephyranthes tubispatha bulb

Vegetative characteristics

Zephyranthes subg. Habranthus are bulbous, 10–30 cm tall plants with oblong to globose bulbs and annual, linear to filiform, 15–30 cm long, and 3–10 mm wide leaves.[3]

Generative characteristics

The 1–4-flowered inflorescence bears pedicellate, zygomorphic flowers.[3]

Taxonomy

It was first published as Habranthus Herb. by William Herbert in 1824[5][6] with Habranthus gracilifolius Herb. as the type species.[2] Habranthus was formerly regarded separate from Zephyranthes; distinctive features included holding its flowers at an angle rather than upright, and possessing unequal stamens.[7] It was merged into the genus Zephyranthes Herb. as Zephyranthes subg. Habranthus (Herb.) Nic. García published by Nicolás García Berguecio in 2019.[3][1][8] At one stage, Habranthus was considered a subgenus of the closely related Hippeastrum.[9] It was later treated as a full genus in the tribe Hippeastreae. However, molecular phylogenetic studies from 2000 onwards showed that although Hippeastreae was monophyletic, many of the genera placed in the tribe were not; in particular, Habranthus, Zephyranthes and Sprekelia formed a complex in which traditionally placed species were intermingled. Accordingly, in 2019, a broad circumscription of Zephyranthes was proposed, including the former genus Habranthus.[3] This proposal has been accepted by Plants of the World Online,[10] among other taxonomic databases.

Cultivation

In the United States, species formerly placed in Habranthus, like other rain lilies, are regarded as "heirloom plants", although not widely used in mainstream landscapes, perhaps because their bloom time, dependent on rain, is erratic. Nevertheless, the bulbs are rugged and easy to grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10 and are recognized among bulb specialists as possessing distinct landscape value in appropriate areas of the world.[11] In colder regions they may be grown in sheltered sites, or in pots kept frost-free in winter.[7]

The most commonly grown species are the pink-flowered Zephyranthes robusta (formerly Habranthus robustus) and the yellow-flowered Zephyranthes tubispatha (formerly Habranthus tubispathus).[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-an). Zephyranthes subg. Habranthus (Herb.) Nic. García. Tropicos. Retrieved February 27, 2025, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/100496090
  2. ^ a b Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-w). Habranthus Herb. Tropicos. Retrieved February 27, 2025, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/40019693
  3. ^ a b c d e f García, Nicolás; Meerow, Alan W.; Arroyo-Leuenberger, Silvia; Oliveira, Renata S.; Dutilh, Julie H.; Soltis, Pamela S. & Judd, Walter S. (2019). "Generic classification of Amaryllidaceae tribe Hippeastreae". Taxon. 68 (3): 481–498. doi:10.1002/tax.12062. S2CID 202854432.
  4. ^ Stevens, P.F. "Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Asparagales: Amaryllidoideae".
  5. ^ Curtis, William, Hooker, Joseph Dalton, Hooker, William Jackson, Prain, D., Stapf, O., Bentham-Moxon Trust., Bentham-Moxon Trust., Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew., Royal Horticultural Society (Great Britain), Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, & Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust. (1801). Curtis’s botanical magazine (Vol. 51). Academic Press [etc.]. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/488148
  6. ^ Habranthus Herb. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved February 27, 2025, from https://www.ipni.org/n/1481-1
  7. ^ a b c Mathew, Brian (1987). The Smaller Bulbs. London: B.T. Batsford. ISBN 978-0-7134-4922-8., p. 101
  8. ^ Zephyranthes subgen. Habranthus (Herb.) Nic.García. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved February 27, 2025, from https://www.ipni.org/n/77203260-1
  9. ^ Baker, John Gilbert (1888). "Hippeastrum". Handbook of the Amaryllideæ including the Alstrœmerieæ and Agaveæ. London: Bell. p. 41. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  10. ^ "Zephyranthes Herb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  11. ^ Ogden, Scott (1994). Garden Bulbs for the South. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Co. pp. 5–27.
  • Howard, Thad M. Bulbs for Warm Climates. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 2001, pp 77–82.
  • [1] International Bulb Society's gallery of photographs
  • [2] Pacific Bulb Society's gallery of photographs
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