Martha's exotic Backyard in Israel

Agapanthus africanus, Agapanthus umbellatus,
Lily-of-the-Nile, African lily,
Hebrew: אגפנתוס אפריקני, Arabic: زنبق النيل,أغابانثوس أفريكانوس

Scientific name:  Agapanthus africanus (L.)Hoffmanns.
Synonym name:  Agapanthus umbellatus L'Her.
Common name:  Lily-of-the-Nile, African lily
Hebrew name:   אגפנתוס אפריקני
Arabic name:  زنبق النيل,أغابانثوس أفريكانوس
Family:  Amaryllidaceae, Amaryllis family, נרקיסיים

Exotic flowers in Israel

Life form:  Hemicryptophyte or rhizome geophyte
Stems:  Clumb-forming; central flower stalk up to 80 cm tall
Leaves:  Rosette, basal, curved, lanceolate
Inflorescence:  Many-flowered cymes
Flowers:  White, or blue funnel-shaped flowers
Fruits:  Pods
Flowering Period:  August, September
Chorotype:  South Africa

Agapanthus africanus, Agapantus, Lily-of-the-Nile, African lily, אגפנתוס אפריקני


Derivation of the botanical name:
Agapanthus, Greek agape, love;anthos, flower.
africanus, African.
umbellatus, furnished with umbels.
The Hebrew name: אגפנתוס, agapanthus, transliteration from the scientific name.
  • The standard author abbreviation L. is used to indicate Carl Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy.
  • The standard author abbreviation Hoffmanns is used to indicate Johann Centurius von Hoffmannsegg (1766 – 1849), a German botanist, entomologist and ornithologist.
  • The standard author abbreviation L'Her. is used to indicate Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle (1746 – 1800), a French botanist and magistrate.