Worsleya

Worsleya rayneri
Worsleya illustration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Tribe:	Griffineae
Genus:	Worsleya
Species:	W. rayneri
Binomial name
Worsleya rayneri W. Watson ex Traub
Synonyms
Worsleya procera

The blue flowers

The genus Worsleya contains only one species - Worsleya procera previously Worsleya rayneri. It is one of the largest (around 1.5 meters high) and rarest members in the Amaryllidaceae family. Worsleya is a tropical plant. This species is also known as Worsleya procera or The Empress of Brazil because of its origin in South America, Brazil.

It grows in very extreme and moist environments, and it is commonly found near waterfalls in rich soil situated on granite rocks (that is why it is sometimes considered to be a lithophyte) and sunny places. However, it is very difficult to cultivate. It has plenty of needs, though it can exhibit great hardiness. It also has many ornamental traits.

The plant has a large bulb which produces a high stem with green bent down leaves. The Worsleya has really beautiful and spectacular blooms. They are large, lilac to blue colored with small freckles on them. The seeds which the plant produces are black and semicircular. The seeds should be sown in pumice or sometimes in Sphagnum but in the second case the threat of decay is higher.