Griffinia is endemic to Brazil and sparsely distributed throughout the remnants of the Mata Atlántica, or Brazilian Atlantic Forest, and the gallery forests and dendritic passages of northeastern Brazil, once associated with a wider, more ancient forest. Griffinia is most closely related to Worsleya raynerii, another endangered relict from eastern Brazil. The genus consists of about 15 species, or so (depending on your concept of a species), and is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family.
The habitats of Griffinia and Worsleya, both endangered Eastern Brazilian endemics, have been greatly modified by man. Continued deforestation of the Mata Atlántica could result in the extinction of these critically endangered plants (Griffinia) in their native habitats. Most species of Griffinia grow in the lush, wet understory of tropical, maritime forests of eastern Brazil. The once contiguous forests of the Mata Atlántica, which extended inland from the coast about 100 kilometers in the north and more than 500 kilometers in the south, encompassed about a million square kilometers and ranged from 8° to 28° South latitude. A survey of the entire Atlantic Forest showed that by 1990 only a little more than eight percent, or 83,500 square kilometers, remained. Contiguous chunks of forest are now rare. The blue-flowered Griffinia are primary rain forest elements, and do not re-colonize readily where forest disturbance has been manifold. The white-flowered Hyline are threatened with the continued expansion of agriculture in the semi-arid interior. (Information from Kevin Preuss.)
Griffinia aracensis This species is considered the easiest to cultivate. The first two photos taken by Mark Wilcox are macro photos showing a seed approximately 5/16 of an inch (0.79 cm) long by 1/4 of an inch (0.64 cm) wide and the flowers with a decent depth of field. The black area on the right is part of the remains of the flower. The third photo taken July 2004 by Jay Yourch is a close-up of a flower.
My G. aracensis finally bloomed this year. The flowers are smaller than those of G. espiritensis or G. liboniana and the petals are much narrower. The leaves are also smaller and much narrower than those of espiritensis or liboniana. Photos taken August 2004 by Lee Poulsen.
Griffinia espiritensis & Griffinia liboniana grown in my (humid) unheated pseudo-greenhouse. The liboniana species has spotted leaves. They grow very well in a well-drained medium and flower in shady areas. They go dormant for me in the winter. Photo taken August 2003 by Lee Poulsen.
Griffinia espiritensis Somewhat out of focus close-up of this species. First photo taken August 2003 by Lee Poulsen.
Griffinia espiritensis subsp. espiritensis In my experience this subspecies, once established, has proven to make offsets relatively freely and in a somewhat stoloniferous manner. Flowering is usually in late spring. This year I had two inflorescences appear in succession. The flower peduncles are easily knocked over and I've found I must be very careful when carrying the plant so that it won't bend horizontally or break off due to a sudden movement. The leaves are always very glossy. I keep it in a small pot, only 10cm wide and 8cm deep. Grown in Honolulu, Hawai`i by Jacob Knecht.
The image below by Jacob Knecht is of one of the larger offsets I removed with a simple gentle tug this spring after flowering.
Griffinia hyacinthina is as large as a hippeastrum with broad petiolate leaves and up to 21 flowers per stalk. It blooms mid summer. Photo from Kevin Preuss.
Griffinia liboniana Close-ups of this species. A beautiful flower and color. Photos by Lee Poulsen.
Griffinia rochae is native to Brazil. Photos from Alessandro Marinello.
Griffinia sp. The following pictures are from Alessandro Marinello, a still unidentified Griffinia originally purchased from the U.S.
