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The Amaryllis Family: Genus Ammocharis

The genus Ammocharis in the Amaryllis Family (Amaryllidaceae) is endemic to Africa. They are herbaceous perennials growing from a true bulb. The flowers are borne in an umbel, a cluster at the top of the peduncle or stalk.

Ammocharis is closely related to Crinum. Like Crinum, it has fleshy seeds that do not go dormant ("recalcitrant"). For two species of Ammocharis, the seeds appear to be dispersed by wind.

 

There are several species in the genus:

angolensis
   Not in cultivation as far as I know.
   Distribution: Africa, Uganda and Tanzania to Angola.
   
baumii
   Syn., Crinum baumii
   Summer growing, small species.
   Distribution: Southern Tropical Africa to Namibia.
   
coranica
   Ammocharis coranica (c) copyright 2013 by James E. Shields. All rights reserved.
   Summer growing or opportunistic.
   Distribution: Southern Africa, widespread in summer-rainfall areas.
   
deserticola
   Closely related to A. longifolia. Infructescence: seeds probably dispersed by wind.
   Not in cultivation as far as I know.
   Distribution: Namib Naukluft Park, Namibia.
   
longifolia
   Syn., Cybistetes longifolia
   Leaves straight and erect. Infructescence: seeds dispersed by wind.
   Winter growing.
   Distribution: Southern Namibia and the western areas of South Africa.
   
nerinoides
   Ammocharis nerinoides (c) copyright 2013 by James E. Shields. All rights reserved.
   Syn., Crinum nerinoides
   Summer growing (probably), dwarf species.
   Distribution: Namibia.
   
tinneana
   Ammocharis tineana (c) copyright 2013 by James E. Shields. All rights reserved.
   Summer growing (probably).
   Distribution: Ethiopia southward and westward to Botswana and Namibia.
   

Checklist of the genus Ammocharis.

Culture

These plants can grow in partial shade to full sun.

They seem to prefer growing in large pots; I have most of mine in 8-inch or 10-inch round plastic pots planted in a gritty mix.

Feed with a dilute soluble fertilize when the plant is in active growth. This depends on the species. For summer-growing and opportunistic plants, this will be from late winter or early spring onwards. In late summer, stop feeding. In winter, reduce watering or cease watering completely.

For winter-growing species, grow in protected spot away from frost. Water from early autumn on until growth slows or stops in Spring.

Not frost-hardy, so protect from freezing.

Acknowledgements

Most of the information here is from:
D.A. Snijman and H. Kollberg, "Ammocharis deserticola (Amaryllideae) A New Species from Namibia and a Key to the Genus." BOTHALIA vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 308-311 (2011).

Other Sources of Information

Bjørnstad, I.N & Friis, I. (Friis, I. & Nordal, I.)1972-1976. Studies on the genus Haemanthus L. (Amaryllidaceae) I--IV. Norw. J. Bot. 19: 187--206; 19: 207--222; 21: 243--275; 23: 63--77. The last reference providing keys to the species, list of synonyms, and necessary combinations.
Bulbous Plants of Southern Africa, Neil du Plessis and Graham Duncan, Tafelberg Pub. Ltd., Cape Town (1989).
Bulbs for Warm Climates, Thad M. Howard, University of Texas Press, Austin (2001).
Bulbs, Revised Edition, John E. Bryan, Timber Press, Portland (2002).
Cape Bulbs, Richard L. Doutt, Timber Press, Portland, Portland (1994).
RHS Manual of Bulbs, John Bryan and Mark Griffiths, Eds., Timber Press, Portland (1995).
The Color Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs, John Manning, Peter Goldblatt, and Dee Snijman, Timber Press, Portland (2002).
Return to Amaryllis Family page Return to Bulbs Home Page Return to List of Genera

Acknowledgements

For information about this account, contact:
James E. Shields, shieldsgardens@gmail.com
Last revised: 22 July 2013
© Copyright 2013 by James E. Shields. All rights reserved.