Ismene amancaes
Species of plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ismene amancaes, commonly called amancae or amancay,[2][3] is a herbaceous plant species in the family Amaryllidaceae and native to the coastal hills of Peru.
| Ismene amancaes | |
|---|---|
| |
| Flower close-up. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Amaryllidoideae |
| Genus: | Ismene |
| Species: | I. amancaes |
| Binomial name | |
| Ismene amancaes | |
.svg) | |
| Ismene amancaes is endemic to Peru[1] | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
I. amancaes is a species with spherical bulbs 3.5–5 cm in diameter.[4][5] The leaves are strap-shaped, 25–50 cm long and 2.5–5 cm wide, bright green.[4][5] The 2–6 yellow pedicellate flowers are borne at the end of a scape up to 33 cm long.[4] The floral tube is greenish yellow, 5–7.5 cm long, bearing at the end the tepals, which are linear to narrowly lanceolate, 6–7.5 cm long, with green tips.[4][6] The floral corona is funnel-shaped, yellow with green stripes, 5–6 cm long, 6–8.5 cm wide, bearing the stamens facing inwards.[4][6][5]
Distribution and habitat
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Chemical compounds
It is reported that I. amancaes contains the alkaloids galantamine[9] and narcissidine.[10]
History
Remains of I. amancaes have been found in archaeological sites near the city of Lima.[11]
The flowering of this species was the subject of a festival ("Festival de Amancaise") celebrated in June in Lima, until the first half of the 1800s.[12] In a place among the hills surrounding Lima, people from the city gathered annually to celebrate the flowering of the plant in a festival with music and dance, similar to May Day.[12] The festival attracted people from all classes of the society then, while a common sight was people sporting the flowers in their garments.[12]
Conservation
I. amancaes is considered an endangered species by the IUCN since 1997.[13]
