Habranthus

Habranthus (copperlily)[1] was a formerly recognized genus of tender herbaceous flowering bulbs in the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the family Amaryllidaceae.[2] It is now included within a more broadly circumscribed genus Zephyranthes. The genus was first identified by pioneering bulb enthusiast William Herbert in 1824.

Taxonomy

Habranthus was formerly regarded separate from Zephyranthes; distinctive features included holding its flowers at an angle rather than upright, and possessing unequal stamens.[3] At one stage, Habranthus was considered a subgenus of the closely related Hippeastrum.[4] It was later treated as a full genus in the tribe Hippeastreae. However, molecular phylogenetic studies from 2000 onwards showed that although Hippeastreae was monophyletic, many of the genera placed in the tribe were not; in particular, Habranthus, Zephyranthes and Sprekelia formed a complex in which traditionally placed species were intermingled. Accordingly, in 2019, a broad circumscription of Zephyranthes was proposed, including the former genus Habranthus.[5] This proposal has been accepted by Plants of the World Online,[6] among other taxonomic databases.

Cultivation

In the United States, species formerly placed in Habranthus, like other rain lilies, are regarded as "heirloom plants", although not widely used in mainstream landscapes, perhaps because their bloom time, dependent on rain, is erratic. Nevertheless, the bulbs are rugged and easy to grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10 and are recognized among bulb specialists as possessing distinct landscape value in appropriate areas of the world.[7] In colder regions they may be grown in sheltered sites, or in pots kept frost-free in winter.[3]

The most commonly grown species are the pink-flowered Zephyranthes robusta (formerly Habranthus robustus) and the yellow-flowered Zephyranthes tubispatha (formerly Habranthus tubispathus).[3]

See also

References
  1. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Habranthus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  2. Stevens, P.F., Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Asparagales: Amaryllidoideae
  3. Mathew, Brian (1987), The Smaller Bulbs, London: B.T. Batsford, ISBN 978-0-7134-4922-8, p. 101
  4. Baker, John Gilbert (1888). "Hippeastrum". Handbook of the Amaryllideæ including the Alstrœmerieæ and Agaveæ. London: Bell. p. 41. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  5. García, Nicolás; Meerow, Alan W.; Arroyo‐Leuenberger, Silvia; Oliveira, Renata S.; Dutilh, Julie H.; Soltis, Pamela S. & Judd, Walter S. (2019). "Generic classification of Amaryllidaceae tribe Hippeastreae". Taxon. 68 (3): 481–498. doi:10.1002/tax.12062. S2CID 202854432.
  6. "Zephyranthes Herb." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  7. Ogden, Scott. Garden Bulbs for the South. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Co., 1994, pp 5-27
  • Howard, Thad M. Bulbs for Warm Climates. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 2001, pp 77–82.
  • International Bulb Society's gallery of photographs
  • Pacific Bulb Society's gallery of photographs
  • Habranthus entry in Flora of North America
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