Amaryllis belladonna pink flowers which may be up to 10 cm in length, appear in the autumn before the leaves (hysteranthy) which are narrow and strap shaped. "Amaryllis belladonna" is one of the two species in the genus "Amaryllis" as currently circumscribed. "Belladonna" is a Latin epithet meaning beautiful lady. There are many common names around the world, for instance in the Azores, Portugal one name is "Meninas Para Escola" (girls going to school) referring to the flowers blooming when the girls in their pink uniforms are starting the new school year. In South Africa the plants are found growing among rocks.
Ornamental bulbous plant season. Such a climate occurs in Kenya, which has wet conditions in October to December and then again in February to May. Glory-lilies ("Gloriosa") and "Crinum" species are examples of bulbous plants adapted to these conditions. Tropical Asia has similarly adapted bulbous plants, such as species of "Hedychium" (gingers). Plants with fleshy underground parts were probably first used as food. Onions ("Allium cepa") were cultivated in Ancient Egypt. In South America, the potato ("Solanum tuberosum"), oca ("Oxalis tuberosa") and the sweet potato ("Ipomoea batatas") were cultivated for thousands of years. Other parts of bulbous plants were also used in cooking.