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 from introductions via Turkey, such as tulips, "Iris susiana", "Galanthus elwesii" and "Fritillaria persica". Clusius had a major impact on bulb growing in Europe. Through his later position as the Director of the Leiden Botanic Garden, he established the Netherlands as the centre of commercial ornamental bulb growing. It is therefore apparent that bulbous plants have served as food and symbols of religion and royal power for thousands of years. They have also been admired and used for the beauty of their flowers since time immemorial and by many civilizations. The list of the countries that have used bulbous plants