Zephyranthes rosea

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Asparagales

Familia: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamilia: Amaryllidoideae
Tribus: Hippeastreae
Subtribus: Hippeastrinae
Genus: Zephyranthes
Species: Zephyranthes rosea
Name

Zephyranthes rosea Lindl., Bot. Reg. 10: t. 821. 1824.
Synonyms

Homotypic

Amaryllis rosea (Lindl.) Spreng., Syst. Veg. 4(2): 133. 1827, nom. illeg.

Note: Amaryllis rosea Lam. = Amaryllis belladonna

Atamasco rosea (Lindl.) Greene, Pittonia 3: 188. 1897.

Heterotypic;

Amaryllis carnea Schult. et Schult.f. in J.J.Roemer et J.A.Schultes, Syst. Veg. 7: 799. 1830.
Zephyranthes carnea (Schult. et Schult.f.) D.Dietr., Syn. Pl. 2: 1175. 1840.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Southern America
Colombia to Peru

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References

Lindley, J., Botanical Register; Consisting of Coloured Figures of Exotic Plants Cultivated in British Gardens; with their History and Mode of Treatment. London 10: t. 821. 1824

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2018. Zephyranthes rosea in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Aug. 01. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2018. Zephyranthes rosea. Published online. Accessed: Aug. 01 2018.
Tropicos.org 2018. Zephyranthes rosea. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Aug. 01.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Zephyranthes rosea in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Zephyranthes rosea, commonly known as the Cuban zephyrlily, rosy rain lily, rose fairy lily, rose zephyr lily or the pink rain lily, is a species of rain lily native to Peru and Colombia. They are widely cultivated as ornamentals and have become naturalized in tropical regions worldwide. Like all rain lilies, they are known for blooming only after heavy rains.

They contain potentially lethal toxins.

Description
A pink rain lily from the Philippines
A pink Zephyranthes rosea from Kooveri, Kerala
Several pink rain lilies in bloom
A pink Zephyranthes rosea from Chemmad, Kerala India
Botanical Register; Consisting of Coloured Figures of Exotic Plants Cultivated in British Gardens; with their History and Mode of Treatment. London 10: t. 821. 1824.

Zephyranthes rosea are perennial herbaceous monocots. They are small plants, reaching only 15 to 20 cm (5.9 to 7.9 in) in height.[3] They bear five to six narrow and flattened dark green linear leaves, about 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in) wide, from spherical tunicate bulbs around 1.5 to 2.5 centimetres (0.59 to 0.98 in) in diameter.[4][5][6]

The single funnel-shaped flowers are borne erect or slightly inclined on scapes around 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in) long. The spathes are around 2 to 2.8 cm (0.79 to 1.10 in) long and slightly divided only at the tip.[7] The fragrant six-petaled flowers are around 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in diameter and 3 to 3.5 cm (1.2 to 1.4 in) in length. The perianth is bright pink with a green central perianth tube that is less than 5 mm (0.20 in) long.[5][8][9] The six stamens are of different lengths – one of 11 mm (0.43 in), one of 16 mm (0.63 in), and four between 12 to 13 mm (0.47 to 0.51 in).[5] They are shorter than the style and inserted at the mouth of the perianth.[7] The anthers are 3 to 6 mm (0.12 to 0.24 in) long.[10]

The flowers develop into capsules that are divided deeply into three lobes.[11] The seeds are shiny black and flattened.[4]
Classification

Zephyranthes rosea belongs to the genus Zephyranthes (rain lilies) of the subtribe Zephyranthinea of the tribe Hippeastreae.[12] It is classified under the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). In broader classifications, they are sometimes included within the lily family (Liliaceae).[13]
Nomenclature

Zephyranthes rosea (like other rain lilies) are so named because they produce short-lived flowers only after seasonal heavy rains or storms.[5][14][15] In Z. rosea, this usually occurs during the late summer.[16][17] The generic name Zephyranthes literally means "flowers of the west wind", from Greek ζέφυρος (zéphuros, an Anemoi) and ἄνθος (anthos, 'flower').[18] Zephyrus, the Greek personification of the west wind, is also associated with rainfall.[16] The specific name comes from Latin for 'rosy'.

Other common names of Z. rosea include 'pink rain lily', 'pink fairy lily', 'pink magic lily', 'pink zephyr lily', 'rain flower', and 'rose rain lily'.[19][20][21] It is also commonly known as duende rojo ('red dwarf') and leli de San Jose in Spanish;[4] and rosafarbene and Windblume in German.[13]

Zephyranthes rosea is one of the two Zephyranthes species known as the 'pink rain lily'. The other species is Zephyranthes carinata, usually referred to incorrectly as Zephyranthes grandiflora. Z. carinata is often mislabeled as Z. rosea by merchants.[16][22] Z. carinata can be distinguished from true Z. rosea by their much larger flowers with a deeper pink coloration.[23][24][25] Z. rosea also has 24 chromosomes in diploid somatic cells, in contrast to 48 in Z. carinata.[26]

Another similar species known under the same common names is Habranthus robustus. They can be differentiated from Z. rosea by having paler pink and larger flowers.

Distribution and habitat

Zephyranthes rosea is native to Peru and Colombia. It is widely planted in warmer regions around the world and is reportedly naturalized in Florida, India, the West Indies, many of the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans[13][27] They are common in recently disturbed land and grassy areas (like lawns and meadows) that receive periodical rainfall.[8][9][28]

Uses

Zephyranthes rosea are usually propagated by dividing clumps of bulbs, but can also be grown from seeds. They are widely cultivated as ornamental plants.[7] They are relatively low-maintenance, becoming dormant during extended periods of drought. They are less tolerant of colder temperatures than other species of Zephyranthes, however.[16]

In India, they are also used in folk medicine, along with Zephyranthes flava.[29]

Toxicity

The bulbs of Z. rosea, like other members of Zephyranthes and Habranthus, contain various toxic alkaloids including lycorine and haemanthamine.[30] They can cause vomiting, convulsions, and death to humans, livestock, and poultry.[16]
Pests and diseases

Pests of Z. rosea include chewing insects. They are also vulnerable to the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea.[17]
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zephyranthes rosea.
Wikispecies has information related to Zephyranthes rosea.

Zephyranthes atamasca – the Atamasco lily
Zephyranthes candida – the white rain lily
Zephyranthes puertoricensis – the Puerto Rican zephyr lily
Habranthus – a closely related genus

References

"Zephyranthes rosea Lindl". Tropicos.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
"Zephyranthes rosea Lindl". The Plant List. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
Kirti Mathura (2007). The Arizona Low Desert Flower Garden: A Seasonal Guide to Bloom, Height, Color, and Texture. Gibbs Smith. p. 134. ISBN 978-1-58685-896-4.
Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez & Mark T. Strong (2005). "Monocotyledons and Gymnosperms of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands" (PDF). Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Smithsonian Institution. 52: 1–415. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
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. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
"Zephyranthes rosea Lindl". Hortus Camdensis. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
Stuart Max Walters (1986). The European Garden Flora: Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae, Angiospermae. Cambridge University Press. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-521-24859-4.
Rita Buchanan & Roger Holmes (2001). Taylor's Master Guide to Gardening. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 521. ISBN 978-0-618-15907-9.
David W. Nellis (1997). Poisonous plants and animals of Florida and the Caribbean. Pineapple Press Inc. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-56164-111-6.
"Zephyranthes rosea Lindley, Bot. Reg. 10: plate 821. 1824". Flora of North America, eFloras.org. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
"Zephyranthes rosea (Spreng.) Lindl., Bot. Reg. 10: t. 821 (1824)". Flora of Australia Online, Australian Biological Resources Study. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
Pascal Vigneron. "Hippeastreae". Amaryllidaceae.org. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
"Zephyranthes rosea Lindl". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved August 7, 2011.
"Zephyranthes rosea". College of Micronesia – FSM. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
"The Rain Lily". Types of Lilies. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
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.
Edward F. Gilman (1999). "Rainlily, Zephyranthes spp" (PDF). Fact Sheet FPS-621. IFAS Extension, University of Florida. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
Bobby J. Ward. "Flowers of the West Wind: Rain Lilies". www.bobbyjward.com. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
"Zephyranthes rosea Lindl. – Cuban zephyrlily". USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
"Zephyranthes rosea". Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, Institute for Systematic Botany. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
"Rose Rain Lily". Cook Islands Biodiversity & Natural Heritage. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
"Zephyranthes grandiflora". Gay Gardener. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
William Lanier Hunt (1992). Southern Gardens, Southern Gardening. Duke University Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-8223-1223-9.
"Zephyranthes grandiflora Lindl". Zanthan Plant Profile. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
"Zephyranthes grandiflora Lindl". Hortus Camdenensis. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
Puangpaga Soontornchainaksang & Kanyarat Chaiyasut (1996). "Cytogenetic study of Some Thai Species of Flowering Plants" (PDF). Thai For. Bull. (Bot.). 24: 50–61. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
"Zephyranthes rosea Lindl". Discover Life. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
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). Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia. 5 (8): 1201–1204. ISSN 0102-695X. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
Julia F. Morton (1962). "Ornamental Plants With Toxic And/Or Irritant Properties. II" (PDF). Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society. Florida State Horticultural Society. 75: 484–491. Retrieved August 7, 2011.