Zephyranthes robusta

For other plants with the same common name, see Pink rain lily.

Zephyranthes robusta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily:	Amaryllidoideae
Genus:	Zephyranthes
Species:	Z. robusta
Binomial name
Zephyranthes robusta (Herb.) Baker[1]
Synonyms[1]
Amaryllis berteroi Spreng. Amaryllis robusta (Herb.) Sweet ex Steud. Habranthus berteroi (Spreng.) M.Roem. Habranthus quilmesianus Ravenna Habranthus robustus Herb. Hippeastrum berteroi (Spreng.) Christenh. & Byng Hippeastrum quilmesianum (Ravenna) Christenh. & Byng Zephyranthes taubertiana Harms Zephyranthes taubertii Harms

Zephyranthes robusta, commonly known as the Brazilian copperlily, pink fairy lily or the pink rain lily, is a species of herbaceous flowering bulb in the family Amaryllidaceae.[1][2] It is native to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay,[3] but is now naturalized in Florida, Colombia, South Africa, and Mauritius.[4][5]

Description

Zephyranthes robusta is a relatively large species of rain lily. It grows from ovate to obovate bulbs around 3.5 to 5 cm (1.4 to 2.0 in) in diameter.[6]

Plants bear solitary lavender to pale pink, funnel-shaped flowers, 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in) long, held at a slight angle on 15–30 cm (5.9–11.8 in) scapes,[3] with a leaf-like bract 1.8–4 cm (0.71–1.57 in) long at the base. Flowers typically appear after rain from late summer to early fall and are followed by large deep green leaves, measuring 5 to 10 mm (0.20 to 0.39 in) wide and 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) long.[7]

Taxonomy and nomenclature

H. robustus from Florida.

H. robustus have declineate slightly asymmetrical flowers.

Zephyranthes robusta belongs to the genus Zephyranthes (rain lilies) of the tribe Hippeastreae,[8] within the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). In older classifications, it was sometimes included within the lily family (Liliaceae).[9] Once treated as Habranthus robustus, it is now re-included in Zephyranthes.[1][8]

It is commonly known as the 'pink fairy lily', 'pink rain lily', 'pink zephyr lily', 'pink magic lily', 'pink fawn lily', and 'Colombian mini-amaryllis'. It is known as cebollita in Spanish.

Due to having the same common names, it is also frequently confused with other 'pink rain lilies' - namely Zephyranthes rosea and Zephyranthes carinata (also sold under the name Zephyranthes grandiflora). The three species are often mislabeled, but Z. robusta is easily recognizable from the other two by its larger, more strongly bent (and often asymmetrical), paler pink flowers.[10] Z. robusta also has leaves covered with a fine grayish waxy coating (glaucous) in contrast to the leaves of Z. carinata.[7]

Distribution and habitat

Zephyranthes robusta is believed to have originated from Rio Grande do Sul of Brazil. It is native to Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, and is widely naturalized elsewhere.[7]

Cultivation and uses

Zephyranthes robusta is widely grown as an ornamental. It is one of the most prolific of the summer flowering rain lilies. They are propagated by dividing the bulbs (including offsets) and from seed. They are not as tolerant of colder temperatures as other rain lilies.[11]

Chemical composition

The plant contains some toxic compounds like lycorine. Other compound include galanthamine, 3-epimacronine, hippeastidine, lycoramine, galanthine, haemanthamine, haemanthidine, hamayne, tazettine, vittatine, 11-hydroxy vittatine, 8-O-demethylmaritidine.[12]

Toxicity

Similar to the closely related species of Zephyranthes, Z. robusta contains toxic alkaloids. Mainly galantamine-type alkaloids which can be lethal for humans.[13]

References

1. "Zephyranthes robusta (Herb.) Baker". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
2. "Zephyranthes robusta (Herb.) Baker". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
3. Mathew, Brian (1987), The Smaller Bulbs, London: B.T. Batsford, ISBN 978-0-7134-4922-8, p. 101
4. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
5. Biota of North America Program
6. Anderson Alves-Araújo; Julie Henriette Antoinette Dutilh; Marccus Alves (2009). "Amaryllidaceae s.s. e Alliaceae s.s. no Nordeste Brasileiro". Rodriguésia (in Portuguese). 60 (2). Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro: 311–331. doi:10.1590/2175-7860200960206. ISSN 0370-6583.
7. José Luis Fernández-Alonso; Jeroen P. Groenendijk (2004). "A New Species of Zephyranthes Herb. S. L. (Amaryllidaceae, Hippeastreae), with Notes on the Genus in Colombia" (PDF). Rev. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. 28 (107): 177–186. ISSN 0370-3908. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
8. 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.
9. "Habranthus robustus Herb". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
10. "Rain Lily Log - June". YuccaDo Nursery Inc. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
11. Gary W. Knox (2005). "Rainlily, Zephyranthes and Habranthus spp.: Low Maintenance Flowering Bulbs for Florida Gardens" (PDF). Enh1151. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, University of Florida. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
12. "Katoch D and Singh B, Med Aromat Plants" (PDF).
13. Lucie Cahlíková; Irena Valterová; Kateřina Macáková; Lubomír Opletal (2010). "Analysis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids from Zephyranthes grandiflora by GC/MS and their cholinesterase activity" (PDF). Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy (Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia). 5 (8). Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia: 1201–1204. ISSN 0102-695X. Retrieved August 7, 2011.

External links