Zephyranthes formosissima (formerly Sprekelia formosissima), also known as Aztec lilies or Jacobean lilies, is a species of bulbous perennial herb in the family Amaryllidaceae endemic to Mexico. After its former genus Sprekelia has been merged into the genus Zephyranthes in 2019, it was formally transferred to Zephyranthes in 2024.
Description
Vegetative characteristics Zephyranthes formosissima is a bulbous,Sprekelia formosissima. (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=275850&isprofile=0& perennial herb with ovate to globose, up to 5 cm wide,Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. (n.d.-c). Sprekelia formosissima (L.) A.D.Herb. Jacobean Lily. HortFlora Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://hortflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/taxon/adac5b6e-5340-11e7-b82b-005056b0018f long-necked bulbs, bearing 3–6Sprekelia formosissima (L.) HERB. (n.d.). Botanischen Garten Der Justus-Liebig-Universität. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from http://fb08heilpflanze.bot1.bio.uni-giessen.de/zeigePflanzeDetails?p_id=963 annual, strap-shaped,Sprekelia formosissima Aztec lily. (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/17705/sprekelia-formosissima/details linear, bright green, sometimes glaucous, up to 50 cm long, and 2 cm wide leaves. The bulbs produce offsets. The roots are fibrous.Alejandro, V. R. (2017). Variabilidad genética y distribución espacial del lirio azteca (Sprekelia formosissima). Generative characteristics The 1–2 flowered,Bischoff, G. W. (1840). Lehrbuch der Botanik. p. 890. Deutschland: Schweizerbart. but usually solitary inflorescence with a hollow, 40–70(–90) cm tall scape has zygomorphic, bright red flowers. The flowers has 6 tepals. The androecium consists of 6 stamens.Vilmorin's illustrirte Blumengärtnerei: 1872-1873. Translation of Les Fleurs de pleine terre, ed. 3. (iii, 1363 p. ; 1235 ill.). p. 83. (1873). Deutschland: Wiegandt, Hempel & Parey. The gynoecium consists of 3 carpels. The stigma is trifid. The triangular 1.5–2.7 cm wide capsule fruit bears black, flat, winged, 9–11 mm long, and 6.5–8 mm wide seeds. Cytology Various chromosome counts have been observed: 2n = 60, 120, 150, 180.
Taxonomy It was first published as Amaryllis formosissima by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.Linné, Carl von, & Salvius, Lars. (1753). Caroli Linnaei ... Species plantarum :exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas... (Vol. 1, p. 293). Impensis Laurentii Salvii. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358312Amaryllis formosissima L. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://www.ipni.org/n/62814-1 A new genus Sprekelia was created by Lorenz Heister in 1748,Sprekelia Heist. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://www.ipni.org/n/1638-1 honouring Johann Heinrich von Spreckelsen (1691–1764), who supplied the plants to Lorenz Heister.Heister, Lorenz 1755. Geschreibung eines neuen Geschlechts 15, 19. Heister however did not transfer any species to the new genus. It was placed into the genus Sprekelia as Sprekelia formosissima by William Herbert in 1821. The genus Sprekelia was merged into Zephyranthes , due to genetic analyses. As Sprekelia is the earlier name than Zephyranthes , it was proposed to conserve Zephyranthes against Sprekelia .García, N., Meerow, A. W., Arroyo‐Leuenberger, S., & Judd, W. S. (2019). (2692) Proposal to conserve Zephyranthes (Amaryllidaceae), nom. cons. against an additional name, Sprekelia. Taxon, 68(3), 596-596. Upon acceptance of this proposal, Sprekelia formosissima was merged into Zephyranthes as Zephyranthes formosissima published by Zhen-Hao Feng in 2024.Z.-H. Feng, Z.-J. Huang, B. Liu, and S. Liu. 2024. Nomenclatural novelties for intergeneric nothotaxa. Phytoneuron 2024-85: 1–41. Published 18 December 2024. ISSN 2153-733XZephyranthes formosissima (L.) Z.H.Feng. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://www.ipni.org/n/77353849-1Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-ar). Zephyranthes formosissima (L.) Z.-H. Feng. Tropicos. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://tropicos.org/name/100555120 It is placed in the tribe Hippeastreae. Etymology The specific epithet formosissima means "most beautiful" or "best formed". Hybridisation There are crosses between the genera Hippeastrum and Sprekelia, referred to as "x Hippeastrelia", as well as at least one cross between the three genera Hippeastrum, Sprekelia, and Zephyranthes, x Howardara.
Distribution and habitat Zephyranthes formosissima is endemic to Mexico. It has been introduced to the Mariana Islands. It occurs in various habitats, ranging from hot and xeric to temperate and humid conditions. It grows in rocky, loamy, or sandy soilsBorys, M. W., Leszczyńska-Borys, H., & Galván, J. L. (2005). Variants in Sprekelia formosissima (L.) Herbert. on rocky slopes and outcrops.
Ecology Pollination The flowers are adapted to hummingbird pollination.Tapia-Campos, E., Rodriguez-Dominguez, J. M., Revuelta-Arreola, M. M., Van Tuyl, J. M., & Barba-Gonzalez, R. (2012). Mexican Geophytes II. The Genera Hymenocallis, Sprekelia and Zephyranthes. Floriculture and Ornamental Biotechnology, 6(SI 1), 129-139.Meerow, A.W., Snijman, D.A. (1998). Amaryllidaceae. In: Kubitzki, K. (eds) Flowering Plants · Monocotyledons. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants, vol 3. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Cultivation Zephyranthes 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.Shields Gardens The Amaryllis Family: Sprekelia The Royal Horticultural Society recommends it as an interesting choice for heated conservatories or greenhouses.
References