Haemanthus

Haemanthus is a genus of plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is native to southern Africa, from Namibia and South Africa to Swaziland. The name Haemanthus is derived from the Greek words for blood, haima, and flower, anthos, in reference to the bright red flowers of many species.

Description

Haemanthus species are bulbous plants with a single pair of large, broad leaves. The leaves are often covered in short hairs or longer, woolly hairs. The flowers are borne in an umbel at the top of a leafless stem, and are usually red, pink or white. The fruit is a fleshy berry.

Species

There are about 22 species in the genus. Some of the more well-known species include:

• Haemanthus albiflos
• Haemanthus coccineus
• Haemanthus deformis
• Haemanthus humilis
• Haemanthus montanus
• Haemanthus sanguineus

Cultivation

Haemanthus species are grown as ornamental plants for their striking foliage and colourful flowers. They are generally easy to grow in a well-drained soil, in a sunny or partially shaded position. Some species are suitable for growing in containers.

Uses

In addition to their use as ornamental plants, some Haemanthus species have traditional uses in herbal medicine. For example, the bulbs of Haemanthus coccineus are used in traditional medicine in South Africa to treat coughs and colds.

External links

• The Plant List: Haemanthus
• International Plant Names Index: Haemanthus

Haemanthus Resources
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