Omphalissa is an unaccepted subgenus of genus Hippeastrum, within the family Amaryllidaceae. Originally described by Richard Anthony Salisbury in 1866.J. E. Gray. (ed.) Richard Anthony Salisbury. The Genera of Plants (Gen. Pl.): 134 (1866) (Unpublished fragment)
Description Robust habit, two to four large flowers. Perianth with a short tube(< 4 cm), paraperigonium curved closing the throat by a distinct neck. Stigma trifid or capitate, lobes > 2 mm. Spathe slit to the base. Ribbon-like leaves, 2.5 to 5 cm broad. Many dry, flat seeds.Baker, J.G. An enumeration and classification of the species of Hippeastrum, in Henry Trimen (ed.). Journal of Botany: British and Foreign, Volume 16. West, Newman & Company, London 1878, p. 81
Taxonomy Salisbury originally described the Omphalissa as a subgroup of the Zephyrantheae, then a tribe within the Amaryllidaceae, in which he included Amaryllis (now Hippeastrum) aulica and A. calyptrata. This was subsequently more formally defined by John Gilbert Baker in 1888, as a subgenus of Hippeastrum with six species. Baker's six species were; Hippeastrum aulicum Hippeastrum organense (now Hippeastrum correiense) Hippeastrum psittacinum Hippeastrum calyptratum Hippeastrum cybister Hippeastrum pardinum
Ecology Contains the epiphytic species of Hippeastrum.
References