Worsleya

empress of Brazil
Worsleya illustration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily:	Amaryllidoideae
Genus:	Worsleya
Species:	W. procera
Binomial name
Worsleya procera (Lem.) Traub
Synonyms
Amaryllis procera Duch. 1863, nom. illegit. [non A. procera Salisb.] Hippeastrum procerum Lem. 1864 [nom. nov. pro. A. procera Duch. non Salisb.] Amaryllis rayneri Hook.f. 1871 Worsleya rayneri (Hook.f.) Traub & Moldenke 1949

The blue flowers

The genus Worsleya contains only one species, Worsleya procera, previously known as Worsleya rayneri. It is one of the largest (around 1.5 meters high) and rarest members of the subfamily Amaryllidoideae (family Amaryllidaceae). Worsleya is a tropical plant. This species is also known as the empress of Brazil because of its origin in South America. It grows in very extreme and moist environments, and is commonly found near waterfalls in rich soil situated on granite rocks (which 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 that produces a high stem with green recurved leaves. Worsleya produces spectacular and beautiful blooms. They are large, lilac to blue, with small freckles on them. The seeds are black and semicircular, and are usually sown in pumice or sometimes Sphagnum, although with Sphagnum the threat of decay is higher.