Belladonna Lily - introduced (*Amaryllis belladonna)

Other names: Naked Lady. (The flowers open before the leaves appear.)

Family: Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis family). Formerly included in the Lily family.

Native of South Africa.

Occurrence: Widely scattered weed.

Identification:

• it has a cluster of funnel-shaped flowers at the end of a long, leafless flower stalk
• the flower stalk is to about 70 cm high
• the flower colour varies from red to white
• the leaves are strap-shaped, and do not begin to grow until after the plant flowers.

Belladonna Lily can spread from dumped garden refuse. It flowers in autumn. It is a common garden plant.

Similar species: Darling Lily (Crinum) has well developed leaves at flowering time. It is a native of NW Victoria.

Name: Amaryllis: from the name of a shepherdess in Greek and Roman poetry; belladonna: beautiful lady (parts of the plant were used to brighten eyes).

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