Gardeners' Chronicle - October 2, 1880
HIPPEASTRUM (ASCHAMIA) ANDREANUM,
Baker, n. sp.*

This is a fine new species of Hippeastrum of the Aschamia group, which inhabits the Central Cordilleras of New Grenada at an elevation of from 2000 to 2500 metres above sea level. It was discovered by M. André in his travels in 1876 on the borders of one of the affluents of the Rio Cauca, and has recently been introduced by him alive into Europe. Of familiar species its alliance is with Leopoldii, miniatum and reginae. It comes nearest the latter, but differs entirely in the colour of its flowers, which are pale red with faint streaks of brighter red, and in the shape of its perianth-segments, which are much narrower than in reginae, and narrowed gradually from above the middle to the base.

Bulb ovoid, 4-4 1/2 inches in diameter, copiously proliferous, with brownish-grey tunics. Leaves lorate, produced at a different time to the flowers, which in the present specimens were produced in August. Peduncle 10-15 inches long, brownish-violet, slightly two-edged. Umbel 4-6 flowered; spathe-valves two, rose-red, lanceolate, or ovate-lanceolate, 1-2 inches long; pedicels 1-1 1/2 inch long, each subtended by a long filiform membranous bract. Ovary oblong-trigonous, 1/4-1/3 inch long. Perianth 3-4 inches long, regularly funnel-shaped, tube very short, not coronulate at the throat; segments oblanceolate, oblong acute, 1/2-3/4 inch broad three-quarters of the way up, narrowed gradually from above the middle to the base, pale red, with streaks of brighter red, the keel faint and inconspicuous as regards colouring. Stamens 1-1 1/2 inch shorter than the perianthsegments. Style a little shorter than the perianth segments; stigma capitate. J. G. Baker.

This species has since been recognized as a naturalized South African Amaryllis belladonna (Auct. non L) that escaped from cultivation. I am informed (Dra. Julie H. A. Dutilh, 25 Feb 2002) that, "H. andreanum is a naturalized form of the African Amaryllis belladonna, and can still be found in the Colombian Andes region. It has also naturalized in Southern Brazil, now."