Amaryllis belladonna buds

Amaryllis belladonna buds, closely together in the photo, are stil creamy white and acutely pointed at both ends, bulging in the centre. They are of unequal length as are their pedicels, destined to open in sequence rather than simultaneously. This relieves pressure from the resource delivery system to the developing flowers and lengthens the flowering period.

There is more colour, pink and greenish brown in the two broad spathe bracts that enclose the inflorescence completely at the outset than in the buds. These bracts are 5 cm to 8 cm long and 1,5 cm to 2 cm wide. The bracts may be translucent, their veins pink, green or brown, usually a combination of those.

When the buds are ready, the bracts will spread, becoming papery and down-curving at fruiting. The pedicels or individual flower stalks start off green, elongating in the fruit stage and usually turning purple (Duncan, et al, 2016).