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zephyrlily

autumn rain-lily, autumn zephyrlily, Peruvian swamp-lily

Leaf

blade dull green, to 4 mm wide.

blade glossy deep green, to 3 mm wide.

Flowers

erect to inclined;

perianth mostly white to pink, color deepening with age, funnelform, (6–)6.6–9.5(–11) cm;

perianth tube green, (1.7–)2–3(–3.1) cm, increasing in diam., at least 1/4 perianth length, ± equaling (2/3–11/4) filament length, ca. 2/3–11/3 spathe length;

tepals usually reflexed;

stamens diverging, appearing equal;

filaments filiform, (1.6–)2–4(–4.6) cm;

anthers 3–6(–8) mm;

style longer than perianth tube;

stigma 3-fid, exserted more than 2 mm beyond anthers;

pedicel 0–1(–1.2) cm, shorter than spathe.

erect;

perianth white, sometimes pinkish abaxially, subrotate, 3–4.5 cm;

perianth tube green, 0.1–0.4 cm, increasing in diam., less than 1/4 times perianth length, 1/5–1/3 times filament length, ca. 1/10 times spathe length;

tepals not reflexed;

stamens diverging, subequal;

filaments filiform, 1–1.4 cm;

anthers 5–8 mm;

style longer than perianth tube;

stigma capitate, usually among or exserted less than 2 mm beyond anthers;

pedicel (0.4–)1–2.5 cm, usually shorter than spathe.

Spathe

(1.8–)2–3.3(–3.6) cm.

(1.8–)2–4 cm.

2n

= 24.

= 38.

Zephyranthes treatiae

Zephyranthes candida

Phenology Flowering mid winter–spring (Jan–Apr). Flowering summer–mid fall (Jun–Nov).
Habitat Peaty-sandy soil, usually associated with wet inlands or former pineland sites Sandy humus soil, coastal plains
Elevation 0–100 m (0–300 ft) 0-200 m (0-700 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
FL; GA
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from FNA
AL; FL; GA; LA; MS; NC; SC; TX; South America (Argentina, Peru, Uruguay) [Introduced in North America]
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Discussion

It has generally been thought that Zephyranthes atamasca and Z. treatiae are distinguishable only by differences in leaves and habitat, and that their flowers are not significantly different. However, the greater length of the perianth tube compared with that of the filaments in Z. treatiae readily separates that species from Z. atamasca.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

W. Herbert (1837) suggested that Zephyranthes candida might belong in a segregate genus, and within ten years Rafinesque and M. Roemer each separated it from Zephyranthes. Its leaves are about twice as thick as those of other species in the genus, and they persist through winter frosts and snow, a rare, if not unique, characteristic in Zephyranthes. The stigmatic lobes are not globose, as in Z. chlorosolen, but are somewhat erect and might be described as very abbreviated linear lobes; a careful study of fresh stigmas of “capitate” species is in order. Also, the chromosome complement of Z. candida appears to be anomalous within Zephyranthes. The species has been maintained in Zephyranthes for more than a century, but were Herbert, Rafinesque, and Roemer correct after all?

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 26, p. 298. FNA vol. 26, p. 302.
Parent taxa Liliaceae > Zephyranthes Liliaceae > Zephyranthes
Sibling taxa
Z. atamasca, Z. candida, Z. chlorosolen, Z. citrina, Z. drummondii, Z. grandiflora, Z. insularum, Z. jonesii, Z. longifolia, Z. pulchella, Z. refugiensis, Z. rosea, Z. simpsonii, Z. smallii, Z. traubii
Z. atamasca, Z. chlorosolen, Z. citrina, Z. drummondii, Z. grandiflora, Z. insularum, Z. jonesii, Z. longifolia, Z. pulchella, Z. refugiensis, Z. rosea, Z. simpsonii, Z. smallii, Z. traubii, Z. treatiae
Synonyms Atamosco treatiae, Z. atamasca var. treatiae Amaryllis candida, Argyropsis candida, Atamosco candida, Plectronema candida
Name authority S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 14: 300. (1879) (Lindley) Herbert: Bot. Mag. 53: plate 2607. (1826)
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