Hymenokallis

Amaryllis family. Homeland - South and Central America, southern regions of North America, West Indies. There are about 60 species in nature.

Hymenocallis are perennial evergreen herbaceous bulbous. The bulbs are ovate or globose, often with a broad neck spanning the basal leaves. Some species of Hymenokallis bloom when a well-formed leafy bush is formed, others bloom at a very early age. Leaves can be of various shapes: belt-shaped, obovate or oblong, sessile (without petiole) or petiole. The ovary is lower, spherical, ovate, oblong or pear-shaped, eggs from 2 to 10 in each nest are the most important distinguishing feature in a separate species.

The genus Hymennokallis is quite extensive; several species described below are grown in Russia. In the USA, Hymenocallis are more popular, and many more species are common in culture (for example, Hymenocallis vasconcelosii, Hymenocallis harrisiana, Hymenocallis glauca, etc.), breeding work is constantly underway, and species descriptions in the literature are being replenished. Some species still do not have an explicit clear description in view of the almost complete disappearance, insufficient comparative base. In such cases, the only sources of information are illustrations of ancient herbariums and botanical descriptions of garden encyclopedias published more than 100 years ago .

The cultivation of Hymennokallis in culture began with their widespread use by sailors in the 16th century. Returning from the tropical shores of the Antilles and from the Spanish sea possessions (the eastern coast of Central and South America, partly from the North - from Florida to Venezuela), they brought bulbs and seeds. The identification of species to this day remains confusing, but flower nurseries specializing in the cultivation and selection of bulbous and amaryllis in particular (for example, Ogden - USA or Borys - Mexico) contribute to the definition.

Classification of hymenocallis

The traditional classification of the tribe Hymenocallis from 1962 is a grouping of genera into six groups, based on morphological characteristics.

Readers are asked to respect botanical systematics and not to confuse the various Amaryllis genera: Gimenokallis and Ismene are two different genera. To make it easier and clearer: Ismen is a garden plant with a pronounced dormant period (drops leaves for winter) and has a pseudostem. Hymenocallis are overwhelmingly evergreen, do not have a stem - the leaves are basal, form a rosette around the bulb, or form in two rows.

The culture requirements for various Hymenokallis are different - some of them are xerophytes, they are found in nature in meadows and rocky areas; the other part - mesohygrophytes - grows in subtropical dry forests or wetlands. Xerophytic Hymennokallis, for example, Hymenocallis harrisiana have a dormant period, completely (or partially in indoor conditions) dropping leaves, Mesogygrophilic Hymenokallis - evergreen.

The Caribbean hymenocallis caribaea hymenocallis is an evergreen perennial bulbous plant native to Jamaica, Virgin Islands. The bulb is about 10 cm in diameter, does not have a pronounced neck. The leaves are reverse lanceolate, 30-60 cm long and 5-7.5 cm wide. The leaves at the end are conical with a pointed apex and slightly narrowed to the base. The leaves grow directly from the bulb (do not form a false stem), the rosette is wide and dense (there are quite a few leaves). Peduncle leafless about 30-60 cm long, umbrella-shaped inflorescence of 8-10 flowers (up to 12 in nature). Bracts are ovate or lanceolate 3-6 cm long. Perianth tube 5-6.5 cm long (sometimes up to 10 cm), petals narrow, thin, up to 9-11 cm long, drooping, white. Crown free 2-3 cm long. The free parts of the stamens are 3-5 cm long. Anthers 1-1.5 cm long. Ovary ovate-spherical 1-1.5 cm. Fragrant flowers, usually sessile (without petiole). Fruits are rounded 1.5-2 cm in diameter. There is a variegated form of Hymenocallis caribaea CVariegataT. The people have the name "Caribbean lily."

Hymenocallis is a beautiful Hymenocallis speciosa - an evergreen perennial bulbous plant 35-45 cm high. It lives in the dry tropical forests of the Caribbean, Cuba, Bahamas. The bulb is about 7.5-10 cm in diameter. During the season it forms a rosette of 7-8 leaves. They are inversely lanceolate or oblong, wedge-shaped at the base - with a pronounced petiole. The sheet plate measures 25 to 45 cm long and 8-13.5 cm wide. Petioles are wide from 9 to 17 cm in length. Peduncle gray-green, two-ribbed, 30-40 cm high. Flowers 7-12, they are petiolate, pedicel about 1 cm long. Flower tube 7-9 cm long, petals 9.5-11.5 cm long, sometimes up to 15 cm. The crown is funnel-shaped, 2.5-3.5 cm (up to 5 cm). Ovary with two seeds in each nest. The flowers are very fragrant, pure white, in diameter the flower span can reach 20-30 cm. Popularly called "Nile lily."

The variety of leaves and bushes can be viewed here

Hymenocallis broadleaf Hymenocallis latifolia is a vigorous plant with numerous evergreen leaves. Homeland - southeastern USA, Cuba, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Haiti, Puerto Rico and Martinique, mainly distributed in coastal dunes, on sandy ridges along mangrove swamps. The leaves are oblong-reverse lanceolate or oblong-elongated, smoothly tapering to the base with a notch along the central vein. The leaf is 40-75 cm long, 4-7.5 cm at its widest point and 2.5-3 cm at the lower narrower part. Peduncle 40-60 cm tall (sometimes even taller). The flowers are sessile - no pedicels. But the flower tube is 8-12 cm long, the petals are 9 to 14.5 cm long. The crown is narrowly funnel-shaped, 2.5-3.5 cm long, and 2.5 cm in diameter. The edge of the crown is wavy, without pronounced teeth. Free parts of stamen threads are 4.5-6 cm long. Anthers with orange pollen, up to 1.5-2 cm long. The ovary is ovoid, measuring 0.9-1.6 by 5-10 mm, with two, very rarely with three eggs. Fruits are oval, about 3 cm long.

Differences in some types of Gimenokallis:

The shape of the leaf is elliptical, the petiole is clearly expressed and the transition from the leaf blade to the petiole.		The leaf shape is oblong, linear or reverse lanceolate, gradually tapering to the base.
Hymenocallis speciosa		flower tubes 4-6.5 cm long, petals 8-12 cm long		flower tubes 8-15 cm long, petals 9-14.5 cm long
		Hynrenocallis caribaea		leaves 4-8.5 cm wide	leaves 2-2.5 cm wide
				Hynrenocallis latifolia	Hymenocallis praticola

Gimenokallis and Pankratium, what are the differences: we understand on the forum.

Coastal hymenocallis littoralis is an evergreen herbaceous plant that lives in nature in swamps and mangroves of tropical America (Peru, Brazil, Mexico). Bulbs are spherical about 7.5-9.5 cm in diameter with a pronounced neck. The leaves are sessile, arranged in two rows, belt-shaped, pointed at the end, up to 60-75 cm long (in nature up to 1 m), 5-6 cm wide. Peduncle up to 60 cm tall, bracts two, about 6 cm. Perianth tube up to 12 cm long. The flowers are fragrant, white with narrow long petals (0.5 by 12 cm). The petals are long, but do not fall below the flower tube. The crown is partially fused (it practically lies on the petals), its edge between the stamens is wavy, there are no pronounced sharp teeth. The free part of the stamen filaments is about 3 cm. Ovary with 4-5 eggs in each nest. The column of the pistil is usually longer than the stamens. As a houseplant, you can find the variegated Hymenocallis littoralis ssp. variegata - with cream stripes along the sheet plate.

Hymenocallis tubular-flowered Hymenocallis tubiflora is an evergreen perennial bulbous plant 35-45 cm high. It occurs in nature in northern South America (Northern Brazil, Venezuela, Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad), grows on meadows and rocky slopes. The bulb is ovoid, narrow at the neck and about 7.5-9.5 cm in diameter, thin light brown scales. The leaves are oblong, tapering smoothly to the apex, and also tapering smoothly to the base, 20 to 30 cm long and 10-12 cm wide, a pronounced groove along the central vein. Petiole itself is 15 to 30 cm long. Peduncle small about 30-35 cm tall. The flowers are short-leaved, numerous, with a very long thin tube 15-20 cm - a distinctive feature of the species (hence the name - tubiflora). The petals are strongly bent and usually twisted spirally (2-3 turns), 10-15 cm long. The crown is narrow with a serrated edge, free - high above the petals 2-3 cm. The column of the pistil is usually longer than the stamens. Prefers light, placement in full sun, well-drained soils, not too spacious pots.

Hymenocallis euharis-shaped Hymenocallis eucharidifolia is an evergreen perennial bulbous plant, the species was discovered in 1884, but over the next century it was considered extinct from its natural habitat - the tropical forests of Mexico (Oaxaca and Guerrero states). The famous American naturalist, landscape designer and traveler, author of many books on crop production Scott Ogden, managed to acquire several bulbs (where or from whom exactly he acquired them history is silent). Bulbs took root perfectly in Texas. This happened in the 90s of the last century, and in such a short period of a pair of Ogden bulbs, the widespread distribution of this species of Gimenokallis throughout the territory of not only Russia, but also the United States did not work. Therefore, if it seems to you that a certain Gimenokallis looks like an eucharis-like one, this is most likely just an external resemblance. Hymenocallis eucharidifolia is still a fairly rare species.

Hymenocallis care

Temperature: During the growing season, 18-24 ° C is optimal. In winter, the temperature is normal, room, but preferably not higher than 22 ° C. Most indoor hymenocallis do not have a dormant period. But some species can themselves move to a period of rest - in autumn, with a cold snap and a reduction in daylight hours, the leaves turn yellow. Then you need to rearrange the pots in a cool place at 14-15 ° C and stop watering.

Lighting: Bright diffused light with some direct sun in the morning or evening. Some species grow well in partial shade. If the bush is lush, with a good crown, there is enough light. If there is little light, the leaves stretch out, pale, the bush is loose, flowering is delayed. In this case, the pot with the flower should be moved to a lighter window.

Watering: Plentiful from spring to late summer, but the soil should have time to dry out in the top third of the pot. Many species are real waterholes, they grow in nature almost in swamps, but when growing pots, you need to make sure that there are large drain holes and good drainage at the bottom of the pot. Waterlogging is detrimental to some species of hymenocallis. Since autumn, watering does not stop, because hymenocallis are evergreens. But in winter, plants should not grow intensively, they slow down in growth so that the onions get stronger. Therefore, watering should be rarer than in summer.

Fertilizer: Once every two to three weeks with liquid mineral fertilizer for flowering indoor plants, diluted in the concentration recommended by the manufacturer. Feeding begins in March, the first two or three times can be fed with diluted organic matter - growing young leaves need nitrogen fertilizer. But then it is worth switching to a complex mineral fertilizer - plants need phosphorus and potassium for flowering. Finish feeding by September.

Air humidity: If the plant is in a room with dry air, then you can periodically spray the leaves with boiled water. But remember that in winter, in a room with central heating, hymenokallis suffers not from dry air, but from heat. Therefore, it is advisable to protect the plant from directed hot air - cover the batteries with damp sheets or fence off the windowsill with a plexiglass screen. If you rearrange the pot inside the room, provide illumination with fluorescent lamps.

Transplant: Transplant hymenocallis as needed, in spring, every two to three years. The pot is taken in proportion to the root system - a small space around the roots. Hymenokallis do not like too spacious pots - flowering is delayed, the plant grows a green mass. How to deeply bury the hymennokalis bulb largely depends on the species - in vigorous species (tubular-flowered, coastal, old Caribbean specimens), the bulb is buried completely (to the root neck), since the leaf mass is too heavy and careless movement of a small pot will cause fall and injury. In medium-sized species, for example, beautiful Gimenokallis, the bulb is buried at 2/3 of the height. The soil consists of 2 parts of clay-turf, 1 part of sheet earth, 1 part of humus and 1 part of sand. Soil acidity for Hymenokallis pH is from 6 to 7.8.

Reproduction: Daughter bulbs during transplantation in spring. Some species baby well, others reluctantly. Often, you can stimulate detoxification by planting the bulb deeper.

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