Amaryllidaceae
Amaryllis Family
The Amaryllidaceae family (Amaryllis Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Asparagales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 23 species across 10 genera. Its members are predominantly herbs. Well-represented genera include Crinum, Zephyranthes and Hippeastrum. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Common Onion, Garlic and Natal Lily.
Browse all 23 species ↓
Strap-shaped, parallel-veined leaves arising from a basal bulb; showy flowers emerge in an umbel from a single papery bract (spathe) atop a leafless stalk, their tepals fused at the base into a short tube above an inferior ovary.
Bulbs and foliage throughout the family store toxic alkaloids such as lycorine as a chemical defence — a common cause of accidental poisoning when confused with edible bulbs like onion.
Which Amaryllidaceae species is this?
Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Amaryllidaceae species.
To check whether a plant belongs to Amaryllidaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.
Learn the full family-identification methodTypical leaf characters
Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.
Typical flower & fruit
- Flower symmetryActinomorphic (radially symmetrical)
- InflorescenceUmbel
- FruitCapsule
Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.
Notable members
Families that can look similar
Orchidaceae
Compare against Orchidaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare OrchidaceaeLiliaceae
Compare against Liliaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare LiliaceaeEuphorbiaceae
Compare against Euphorbiaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare EuphorbiaceaeMalvaceae
Compare against Malvaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare MalvaceaeAll 23 species in AMARYLLIDACEAE
- Common OnionAllium cepa
- GarlicAllium sativum
- Natal LilyClivia miniata
- Tree CrinumCrinum asiaticum
- Milk And Wine LilyCrinum latifolium
- Natal SwamplilyCrinum moorei
- River Crinum LilyCrinum viviparum
- Maharashtra Crinum LilyCrinum woodrowii
- Barbados LilyHippeastrum puniceum
- Netted-Veined AmaryllisHippeastrum reticulatum
- Beach Spider LilyHymenocallis littoralis
- Showy Spider LilyHymenocallis speciosa
- Wild DaffodilNarcissus pseudonarcissus
- Forest Spider LilyPancratium triflorum
- Cardwell LilyProiphys amboinensis
- Fireball LilyScadoxus multiflorus
- White Rain LilyZephyranthes candida
- Rose Pink Zephyr LilyZephyranthes carinata
- Rain LilyZephyranthes citrina
- Rio Grande Copper LilyZephyranthes rosea
- Crinum brachynema
- Crinum malabaricum
- Hippeastrum vittatum
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