Lycoris albiflora




Family Amaryllidaceae
Scientific name Lycoris albiflora Koidzumi
Synonyms Lycoris elsiae Traub
Common name (Japanese common name) shirobana-higan-bana (シロバナヒガンバナ, 白花彼岸花 [meaning: white flower equinox flowers]), shirobana-manju-sha-ge (シロバナマンジュシャゲ, 白花曼珠沙華 [meaning: white flower manju-sha-ge (manju-sha-ge = Lycoris radiata (L’Héritier) Herbert)])
(English common name) white spider-lily
Distribution (Japan) Kyushu
(Other nations) Korea, China
Habitat Field
Chromosomal number 2n=17, 18
Description Leaves 35-38cm long, 12-13mm wide. Scapes 30-50cm tall. Flowrrs white perianths 4-5.5cm, flowering in late September to October. Perennial plants.
Reference Lycoris ×albiflora Koidz.
Sterile taxa with [M+T] and [A]-type genomes
Fertile taxa with a pair of [M+T]-type genome
Note Some authors describe that Lycoris albiflora Koidzumi is a natural hybrid of Lycoris radiata (L’Héritier) Herbert and Lycoris traubii Hayward (or Lycoris chinensis Traub). However it is uncertain.
Lycoris houdyshelii Traub (2n=30) is very similar species with Lycoris albiflora Koidzumi. Lycoris houdyshelii is a garden plant in Japan which is thought to be native to China. Lycoris houdyshelii Traub is not a synonym of Lycoris albiflora Koidzumi.
Lycoris flavescens M. Y. Kim & S. T. Lee (2n=19) is a bit similar species with with Lycoris albiflora Koidzumi. Lycoris flavescens is native to Korea. Lycoris flavescens M. Y. Kim & S. T. Lee is not a synonym of Lycoris albiflora Koidzumi.
Lycoris longituba Y. Hsu & G. J. Fan (2n=16) has white (merely yellow) flowrs and is native to China. Lycoris longituba Y. Hsu & G. J. Fan is not a synonym of Lycoris albiflora Koidzumi.
Lycoris aurea (L’Héritier) Herbert (2n=14, 15, 16) has yellow flowrs and is native to China. Lycoris aurea (L’Héritier) Herbert is not a synonym of Lycoris albiflora Koidzumi.
Lycoris chinensis Traub (2n=16) has yellow flowrs. Lycoris chinensis is native to China (Lycoris chinensis Traub var. chinensis) and Korea (Lycoris chinensis Traub var. sinuolata K. H.T ae & S. C. Ko). Lycoris chinensis Traub is not a synonym of Lycoris albiflora Koidzumi. In general, golden hurricane lily or golden spider lily means Lycoris chinensis or some artificial hybrids of Lycoris chinensis.Such hybrids of Lycoris chinensis are familiar with Japanese people as garden plants.
Lycoris traubii Hayward (2n=12, 13, 14) has yellow flowrs too and is native to Japan and Taiwan. Native Lycoris traubii is relatively rare in Japan. Lycoris traubii Hayward is not a synonym of Lycoris albiflora Koidzumi.



September 2007
at Koishikawa Botanical Garden
September 2007
at Koishikawa Botanical Garden
September 2007
at Koishikawa Botanical Garden



November 2007
at Koishikawa Botanical Garden
November 2007
at Koishikawa Botanical Garden