Scientific name Eucharis Rank Genus | Higher classification Amaryllidaceae | |
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Lower classifications | ||
Eucharis is a genus of about 15-20 species of Neotropical plants in the Amaryllis family, native to Central America and South America, from Guatemala south to Bolivia. Some species have become naturalized in Mexico, the West Indies, and scattered tropical islands. The English name Amazon lily is sometimes used for all species in the genus (as well as other genera), but is particularly used for Eucharis amazonica and Eucharis × grandiflora, which are often confused.
Contents
Description
Eucharis is a perennial with a bulb 2–6 cm (1–2 in) in diameter. The broad-stalked leaves are 20–55 cm (8–22 in) long and 10–20 cm (4–8 in) broad. The large showy white flowers are borne in an umbel of three to ten on an erect scape 40–80 cm (16–31 in) long. The flowers resemble narcissus flowers in having a prominent central cup or corona, which is sometimes tinged with green.
Cultivation and uses
Eucharis amazonica and the hybrid Eucharis × grandiflora are the best-known and most generally cultivated species.
It is propagated by removing the offsets, which may be done in spring, potting them singly in 15 cm pots. It requires good loamy soil, with enough sand to keep the compost open, and should have a good supply of water. A temperature of 18° to 20°C during the night, and rising to 25°C in the day. During summer growth is to be encouraged by repotting, but the plants should afterwards be slightly rested by removal to a night temperature of about 15°C, water being withheld for a time, though they must not be left dry for too long, the plant being an evergreen. By the turn of the year they may again have more heat and more water, and this will probably induce them to flower.
With a stock of the smaller plants to start them in succession, it is possible to have plants in flower all the year round.
A hybrid has been raised between Eucharis and the allied genus Urceolina and given the hybrid name × Urceocharis.
Accepted species
The following are species which are currently included within this genus.
- Eucharis amazonica Linden ex Planch. - Perú; naturalized in México, Venezuela, Central America, West Indies, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Ascension Island, Society Islands
- Eucharis astrophiala (Ravenna) Ravenna - Ecuador
- Eucharis bakeriana N.E.Br. - San Martín Region of Perú
- Eucharis bonplandii (Kunth) Traub - Colombia
- Eucharis bouchei Woodson & P.Allen - Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panamá
- Eucharis candida Planch. & Linden - Colombia, Ecuador, Perú
- Eucharis castelnaeana (Baill.) J.F.Macbr. - Colombia (Amazonas), Peru (Loreto), Brazil (Amazonas)
- Eucharis caucana Meerow - Colombia
- Eucharis corynandra (Ravenna) Ravenna - Cajamarca Region of Perú
- Eucharis cyaneosperma Meerow - Bolivia (La Paz + Beni), Perú, Brazil (Amazonas + Acre)
- Eucharis formosa Meerow - Colombia, Ecuador, Perú
- Eucharis × grandiflora Planch. & Linden - Colombia, Ecuador
- †Eucharis lehmannii Regel - Cauca Department in Colombia but extinct
- Eucharis moorei (Baker) Meerow - Ecuador, Perú
- Eucharis oxyandra (Ravenna) Ravenna - Huánuco Region of Perú
- Eucharis plicata Meerow - Perú (San Martín), Bolivia (Beni)
- Eucharis sanderi Baker - Colombia
- Eucharis ulei Kraenzl. - Colombia (Amazonas), Perú, Bolivia (La Paz, Beni, Pando), Brazil (Amazonas + Acre)
Formerly Included
Several plants had once been placed within the Eucharis genus but have since been reclassified to other genera (Caliphruria, Mathieua and Plagiolirion).