The butterfly amaryllis (Hippeastrum papilio (Ravenna) Van Scheepen) is native to the Atlantic rainforests of southern Brazil.* Of the 60 or so species of Hippeastrum, half are native to Brazil. Many are limited in range which is probably why the butterfly amaryllis was not discovered until 1967.

Pedro Ravenna described and named it Amaryllis papilio in 1970. In 1997, it was moved to the genus Hippeastrum by Johan van Scheepen. Although similar, true Amaryllis are African; Hippeastrum are South American. Both genera belong to the family Amaryllidaceae.

Like most other monocots, Hippeastrum have floral parts in threes—three outer petal-like sepals and three petals. In the butterfly, these range from creamy white to chartreuse overlaid with spectacular burgundy markings. The flowers arise in spring—southern hemisphere spring—October, but those cultivated in the northern hemisphere may bloom in October or in late February or anywhere in-between.

Hippeastrum species are diploids. Most have eleven pairs of chromosomes (2n=22) and most are self-incompatible. They will not set seed with their own pollen and must be cross-pollinated. Among Hippeastrum, the butterfly is distinctive; it is self-compatible and sets seed readily with its own pollen.

Although Hippeastrum can reproduce sexually, they are considered geophytes—plants capable of asexual reproduction by off-shoots of the underground bulbs. Most gardeners are familiar with the bulbs of horticultural hybrids of Hippeastrum and increase their plants by dividing and replanting the side bulbs. Though the butterfly is a 'geophyte', it is one of several Hippeastrum that became epiphytes and left the soil for life in the trees.

*It had been reported that the butterfly was extinct in the wild. According to Dr. Alan Meerow, the plants were found several years ago in remnant stands of the Atlantic coastal rainforest by some of his Brazilian colleagues. (personal communication)

(Compiled from: "Breeding of New Hippeastrum Cultivars using Diploid Species", Alan W. Meerow, Timothy K. Broschat, and Michael E. Kane, report to the American Floral Endowment, 1991; "Cultivating Better Hippeastrum Hybrids and H. papilio", Veronica Read, June 2004; and "Report of the Herbaceous Ornamental Crop Germplasm Committee", National Plant Germplasm System, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 1995.)