As soon as the first monsoon showers arrive, rain lilies start coming up all over Curzon Hall. In front of the Chemistry department, in front of Zahir bhai’s canteen, and all around our Botany department, the ground fills up with them. They are lovely to look at, and they come in so many colours. Some are pink, some yellow, and some white.
The colours differ, but the flowers are built the same way, and the ring of yellow anthers in the middle gives away that these are all the same kind of plant. The plants never grow very tall. What they do instead is spread, carpeting a long stretch of ground so that it feels as if they have taken over a huge area.
My favourite, the pink one
The one I like most is the pink flower. Its scientific name is Zephyranthes rosea Lindl., and the name suits the look very well. Count the petals and there are exactly six, beautifully arranged. These plants are native to Peru and Colombia, yet they have settled in among us so comfortably that you would never guess they are not from here.
The white and the yellow
The white rain lily is the one I see for the longest stretch of the year, so I have a soft spot for it too. It goes by the name Zephyranthes candida (Lindl.) Herb. The one I see least is the yellow flower. The botanist Baker named it Zephyranthes citrina in 1882.
Leaves, bulbs and fruit
Rain lily leaves are long and narrow. As for the bulb, anyone who saw one would swear it was an onion. Oh, and the fruits deserve a mention as well. Each one looks like three little balls tied together with a bit of string. Not bad looking at all.
A small word of caution
When they bloom in a long row, they are a real pleasure to look at. But a little care is needed when you handle them. The plants contain some toxic compounds related to lycorine, and swallowing any part of them can cause trouble. So enjoy them with your eyes and keep them away from your mouth.
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