HAEMANTHUS CARNEUS

This member of the Amaryllidaceae family was given this name by John Bellenden Ker Gawler in 1821. It is found in south-western South Africa, growing in a well drained soil with some water and some sun. The bulb can grow to four centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to five centimetres in height - as the fifteen centimetre leaves lay flat on the ground. The flowers are pink. Other botanists have suggested other classification, but it seems like Ker Gawler's remain the most used.

The name Haemanthus is derived from the Greek haima meaning 'blood' and anthos meaning 'flower' - a reference to the red flowers of most species.

The species name from Latin; carne; 'meat' for the colour of the flowers. Despite it originates from a summer-rain area, it is reported to prefer to grow at wintertime in culture.