Sprekelia Formosana #5
by J McCombie
Title
Sprekelia Formosana #5
Artist
J McCombie
Medium
Photograph - Untouched
Description
This piece has been featured in the FAA Group, "Macro Photography".
Sprekelia is a genus of Mesoamerican plants in the Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. Sprekelia formosana (formosissima), (otherwise known as Aztec Lily, Jacobean Lily, Saint Jacobs Lily, St. James' Lily, Mexican Fire Lily, Gold Dust Lily; also called Orchid Amaryllis) is a large truncated bulb from Mexico that produces dark-green narrow strap-like leaves that arise during the bloom period. It produces very large deep, rich, velvet-textured crimson- or blood-red flowers up to 6 inches across with a most distinctive and attractive appearance which rise up individually on a stalk only about 1 foot above the ground during the spring and early summer and sometimes again in fall. They have spider-like, long narrow petals with the two side petals curling back while the other four (one on top and three on bottom) are straight. This is better seen than described, but it looks rather like an Amaryllis that wants to be an orchid. Larger bulbs bear more than one thin stem. This is a good choice for containers and other planting situations where the flowers can be viewed close up. Although hardy in zones 8 through 11, this bulb can be difficult to grow in rainy maritime climates. Dryness during dormancy is critical, and can be best provided by digging up the bulb and storing it for the winter. A growing site in full sunlight is necessary for blooming, which can occur in both spring and fall.
Long known as Amaryllis formosissima, but later renamed Sprekelia formosissima to honor Johann Heinrich von Sprekelson, who sent the plant to Linnaeus (Lorenz Heister) in 1658. The specific epithet 'formosissima' means "the most beautiful". Its deep blood red petals, roughly arranged in the shape of a cross, were thought to resemble the emblem on the mantles of the Spanish Knights of St James, hence one of its common names St James Lily.
Sprekelia is located in tribe Hippeastreae, subtribe Hippeastrinae. Accepted Species: Sprekelia formosissima (L.) Herb. - Mexico from Chihuahua to Chiapas; Guatemala, Honduras; naturalized in Micronesia. Sprekelia howardii Lehmiller - Guerrero. The following two names were coined using the name Sprekelia, but they refer to species are now generally regarded as better suited to Hippeastrum. Sprekelia cybister - Hippeastrum cybister. Sprekelia spectabilis - Hippeastrum angustifolium. Sprekelia formosissima is common in cultivation, planted in warm climates or raised in pots in colder climates, or planted and lifted, much as the gladiolus. Even when well grown, bulbs often do not bloom every year. In a grouping of about a dozen bulbs, only two or three may bloom in any given year.
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November 28th, 2016
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