Belladonna

(Sweet ex Endl.) Sweet ex Harvey

Belladonna

Species Guides

1

Belladonna is a of bulbous flowering plants in the Amaryllidaceae, native to South Africa. The most notable , Amaryllis belladonna, is commonly known as the belladonna lily or 'naked lady' due to its leafless flowering stalks in summer. The name 'belladonna' derives from Italian, meaning 'beautiful lady.' The genus is now treated as a synonym of Amaryllis in modern . Plants in this group produce showy pink flowers that attract including honey bees.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Belladonna: /bɛləˈdɒnə/

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Distribution

Native to the Cape Province, South Africa.

Seasonality

Flowers in summer; the 'naked lady' refers to the leafless flowering stalks that appear during this season.

Human Relevance

Cultivated as an ornamental plant. The Amaryllis belladonna was among the plants developed and grown at Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Experiment Farm in California. The plant attracts honey bees and other .

Similar Taxa

  • Atropa belladonnaShares the 'belladonna' but is a completely different organism—a toxic flowering plant in the nightshade (Solanaceae), not a bulbous plant in Amaryllidaceae.

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