AMARYLLIS (the name of a girl in classical pastoral poetry), in
botany, a genus of the natural order Amaryllidaceae, 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 a
solid stem, bearing at the top a cluster of 6-12 funnel-shaped
flowers, of a rose colour and very fragrant. Several forms
are known in cultivation. Most of the so-called Amaryllis
of gardens belong to the allied genus Hippeastrum (q.v.).
Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed
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