A relative of the daffodil, Eucharis amazonica is putting on a great show in the Palm House.
Amaryllidaceae, or the daffodil family, numbers some 60 genera of perennial bulbs and rhizomes from Europe, South Africa and South America. One of these is Eucharis, which derives its name from the Greek eu, good, and charis, attraction, which is appropriate for the striking blooms of the genus. The Peruvian Eucharis amazonica is one of 17 species, all of which occur in South America. It has persistent, broad, glossy leaves, and these provide the perfect foil to the umbels of pendulous, funnel-shaped, white flushed green flowers. Each of these has six perianth lobes (or petals) and six stamens, which are fused at the base to form a cup reminiscent of the more familiar daffodil.