amaryllis belladonna
amaryllis belladonna Lexical Profile
• noun
A species of bulbous flowering plant in the amaryllis family, native to the Cape Province of South Africa, characterized by large, fragrant, pink or white trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom on sturdy leafless stems in late summer or autumn.
"The botanical garden featured a spectacular border of Amaryllis belladonna that burst into vibrant pink color just as the surrounding foliage began to fade."
Word Nuance & Usage
In the horticultural trade, the common name 'amaryllis' is often incorrectly applied to winter-blooming houseplants of the genus Hippeastrum, whereas Amaryllis belladonna is a distinct outdoor autumn-blooming plant.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Modern Latin binomial nomenclature. 'Amaryllis' comes from a classical Greek name for a shepherdess in Virgil's Eclogues, and 'belladonna' comes from Italian, meaning 'beautiful lady'.