Ismene was segregated from Hymenocallis by Meerow in 1990. The main feature to distinguish the two groups is the false stem. In Ismene the leaf sheaths form a prolonged false stem. In addition the flowers are declinate to pendulous and the staminal cup is usually striped green. Species are endemic to the Central Andes of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. In Hymenocallis the leaves never form a prolonged pseudostem, flowers are sub-erect to erect, and the staminal cup is never striped green within. Hymenocallis is mostly absent from South America (native in northern South America only and never in the Andes). This genus is in the Amaryllidaceae family.
Hybrids of Ismene, Hymenocallis, Elisena, and Leptochiton can be found on the Hymenocallis Hybrids wiki page. The plants known as Ismene × festalis and Ismene 'Sulphur Queen' will be found on this page.
Ismene amancaes (syn. Hymenocallis amancaes) has a bright yellow flower with a green striped cup. Photo taken June 2006 by Lee Poulsen.
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