A new genus in the Amaryllidaceae family, Griffiniopsis, is described from Brazil. The genus contains two species, G. blumenavia (formerly known as Hippeastrum blumenavium or Griffinia blumenavia), and a new species, G. piracicabae. Both species are small, attractive flowering bulbs that grow in moist shady woodland sites in the state of Sao Paulo. The new genus is most closely related to the genus Rhodophiala, native to Chile and Argentina. (From information from Julie H Dutilh and Alan W Meerow's article provided by Kevin Preuss.) Another name for this genus is Eithea.
Griffiniopsis blumenavia grown and photographed, in August 2003, by Lee Poulsen. I grow this the same way I grow Griffinia: In a very well-draining medium in my humid, unheated pseudo-greenhouse. It seems to go dormant on me at odd times, not necessarily in the winter.
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