A Note on the nomenclature

The correct name for the Empress of Brazil is Worsleya procera (Duchartre) Traub, not Worsleya procera (Lemaire) Traub. The parenthetical author is the author of the basionym (International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, Article 49). The basionym is the specific epithet or infraspecific name that has priority and must be retained when being transferred to a different or new taxon. Duchartre is the author of Amaryllis procera and therefore the author of the basionym (See Article 49, Ex. 5).

Etymology of specific epithet

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word procerus which is an adjective meaning tall or long. This is in reference to the height of the plant, due to the long neck of the bulb, compared to other species of the genus Amaryllis (Hippeastrum).

Distribution

Organ Mountains of southeastern Brazil (Estado do Rio de Janeiro, near Pétropolis). Hippeastrum calyptratum is also found in the Organ Mountains.

Seeds

Nine seeds of the blue amaryllis (Worsleya procera) were obtained from a source in Australia. Four seeds were of one line (New Zealand line), one seed of another (Cosh line), and 4 seeds of a cross between the first two lines. These last four seeds were designed the Catlan line. The seeds were planted on 1 March 2006 in two four-inch (ca. 10.5 cm), terra cotta rose pots filled with pumice. Each pot was cover with a plastic bag. The pots were watered daily and allowed to drain before being covered again and place in a glass culture dish with a small amount of water to keep the terra cotta moist and humidity inside the plastic bag high.

Seeds of Worsleya procera (left). The pumice used as the medium (middle). One of the pots of seeds (right). Click here to see a comparison of seeds of W. procera and several species of Hippeastrum.
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One of the seeds was uncoverd on 12 March 2006 and found to have germinated (below, left). After photographing the seed, it was gently replanted. All seeds germinated, and after germination, the medium was watered with a dilute [¼ teaspoon (1.23 mL) per gallon (3.785 L) of water] water-soluble fertilizer (7-9-5 with trace elements). The first leaf was observed on 17 March (below, right). The base of the leaf was 2 mm wide when photographed. A second was observed on 19 March. The plastic bags covering the pots were removed and not replaces, but water was allowed to accumulate in the the culture dishes to keep the terra cotta moist. All nine germinated seeds had a leaf emerging by 23 March.

Seed with emerging radicle (left) and first leaf of one of the seedling (right).

Seedlings

A second leaf was observed on one of the seedlings 30 days after planting (31 March) and eight the last seedling emerged. A second seedling with a second leaf was observed the next day. By 8 April, all but one of the seedlings (one of the Catlan line) had two leaves. Finally, on 17 April, the smallest seedling developed a second leaf. At this point, water was not allowed to accumulate in the culture dishes. All water was removed after watering the seedlings and allowing the excess water to drain.

Seedling with second leaf emerging (left). Seedlings of the New Zealand line (middle) and the Catlan and Cosh lines (right) as seen on 31 March 2006. The seedling of the Cosh line is the smaller seedling on the lower left that is marked with the caret.

A third leaf was observed on one of the seedings on 15 May, and by 1 June, seven of the nine had a third leaf. The pumice was removed from one side of one of the seedlings to check for development of the bulb. The base of this seedling was starting to enlarge slightly having a diameter of 8 mm. All seedlings had three leaves by 9 June.

Seedlings of the New Zealand line (left) and the Catlan and Cosh lines (middle) as seen on 1 June 2006, three months after planting. The seedling of the Cosh line is the smaller seedling on the lower left that is marked with the caret. The base of one of the seedling, Catlan line (right). The diameter was 8 mm.

Most of the seedlings grew well from the third to the ninth month after planting. On 1 November, the longest leaf of the New Zealand line was 25.5 cm from the surface of the medium to the tip of the leaf. The longest leaf of the Catlan line was 26.8 cm long and 17.2 cm long for the Cosh line. Leaves ranged between 7 and 9 mm wide. The bulbs doubled in diameter (from eight mm to 1.6 cm) during this time. One seedling of the Catlan line remains very small with the longest leaf being only 7.5 cm from the surface to the medium to the tip.

Seedlings of the New Zealand line (left) and the Catlan and Cosh lines (middle) as seen on 1 November 2006, nine months after planting. The seedling of the Cosh line is the smaller seedling on the lower left that is marked with the caret. The bulb of one of the seedling, Catlan line (right). The diameter was 1.6 cm. For scale, the outside diameter of the pots is 11.4 cm.

A bulb (#1) and a plant (#4) of the New Zealand line at 17 months after planting. Both plants have bulbs that are 3 cm in diameter. The longest leaf on New Zealand #4 was 43 cm (measured from the top of the medium to the tip of the leaf).

The nine plants two years after all the seeds had an emergent leaf, 23 March 2008. The width of the picture represents one meter.

The development of an offshoot. The first picture (left) was taken on 29 April 2008, and the second one (middle left) was taken on 9 May 2008. The third and fourth pictures, taken 2 November 2008, are of the two plants, Catlan #1 (middle right) and New Zealand #2 (right) that have developed a second offset.