Hippeastrum subg. Hippeastrum

Hippeastrum subg. Hippeastrum is a subgenus of the genus Hippeastrum native to South America.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Hippeastrum subg. Hippeastrum are bulbous, (15–)30–100 cm tall plants with globose bulbs bearing usually annual leaves.

Generative characteristics

The scapose, (1–)2–4(–8)-flowered inflorescence with a 2–30 cm long, and 1–6 mm wide scape bears pedicellate, zygomorphic flowers.

Cytology

Various chromosome counts have been observed: 2n = 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77.

Taxonomy

It is an autonym.

Species

It has about 100 species:

• Hippeastrum lavrense
• Hippeastrum reginae
• Hippeastrum stapfianum

Distribution and habitat

Species of Hippeastrum subg. Hippeastrum occur in South America in the region spanning from central Argentina to Colombia. The centre of diversity is eastern Brazil, as well as the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes.

References