FW: Amaryllis Takes the Stage at Arboretum

**"Lon J. Rombough" l*@hevanet.com**

Must be an article or two in this for someone in houseplants.

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From: ARS News Service <NewsService@ars.usda.gov>
Reply-To: ARS News Service <NewsService@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 07:32:41 -0500
To: ARS News subscriber <lonrom@hevanet.com>
Subject: Amaryllis Takes the Stage at Arboretum

STORY LEAD:
Amaryllis Featured in Arboretum Exhibit
___________________________________________

ARS News Service
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Alfredo Flores, (301) 504-1627, aflores@ars.usda.gov
December 12, 2003
___________________________________________

The popular holiday plant known as amaryllis is being featured in a
two-month exhibit at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.
Hundreds of lovely amaryllis in full bloom are on display there now,
including unusual species and dazzling new hybrids.

The exhibit also features interpretive displays that include a
historical retrospective on the role played by the Agricultural Research
Service in developing this important ornamental crop. ARS, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's primary scientific research agency,
administers the arboretum.

In 2001, indoor forcing bulbs such as the amaryllis were purchased by
8.5 million U.S. households.

One of the foremost amaryllis experts, Alan W. Meerow, a plant
geneticist at the ARS Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in
Miami, Fla., will be discussing the development of amaryllis on
Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. in the auditorium of the arboretum's
administration building. He will explain the merits, uses and care of
this easy-to-grow holiday bulb. When properly handled, an amaryllis bulb
may produce flowers year after year.

Amaryllis species belong to the genus Hippeastrum and have large,
bell-shaped or lily-like flowers in a wide range of flower colors. Very
large, robust blooms and beautiful textures add to their appeal.

While working for the University of Florida's Fort Lauderdale Research
and Education Center, Meerow created three new amaryllis
cultivars--named "Bahia," "Rio" and "Sampa"--in 1987. The three are
complex hybrids of H. papilio and exhibit novel floral coloration
patterns. "Bahia" has an unusual color pattern of red, tipped with
white, while "Rio" is intensely fragrant and "Sampa" is a semi-dwarf
that bears up to 10 flowers on each stem. All three are also resistant
to red scorch, a plant disease that causes red spots on leaves, flower
stems and flowers. Red scorch often deforms leaves or stems and forms
large, red blotches in the bulb that rot easily.

Additional information on the U.S. National Arboretum, its amaryllis
display and its hours can be found on the World Wide Web at:
http://www.usna.usda.gov
___________________________________________

* This is one of the news reports that ARS Information distributes to
subscribers on weekdays.
* Start, stop or change an e-mail subscription at
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* NewsService@ars.usda.gov | www.ars.usda.gov/news
* Phone (301) 504-1638 | fax (301) 504-1648

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