Urceolina is a genus of South American plants in the amaryllis family native to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, and Peru.[2][3] It has also been introduced to many South and Central American states, as well as India and Sri Lanka.[2] The formerly accepted genera Eucharis and Caliphruria are now regarded as synonyms of this genus.[2] Many species of this genus share the common name Amazon lily.[4][5]
In 1821, William Herbert published the genus name Urceolaria and transferred Crinum urceolatum to the genus as Urceolaria pendula. However, Herbert's name was illegitimate since the genus name had already been published in 1786 when it was attributed to Juan Ignacio Molina. (Molina's name was later rejected in favour of Sarmienta.) In 1828, Ludwig Reichenbach used the name Urceolina for the genus. This is now a conserved name with the type species being Urceolina urceolata based on Crinum urceolatum.[1]
Urceolina is placed in the tribe Eucharideae. Eucharis, whose flower has a conspicuous staminal cup (which is different from the corona of Narcissus), and Caliphruria, whose staminal cup is heavily reduced, were formerly regarded as separate genera within the tribe. A 2020 molecular phylogenetic study showed that these two genera (excluding C. korsakoffii) form a monophyletic clade with Urceolina sensu stricto, sister to Stenomesson:[6]
The clade showed extensive ancestral reticulation. The authors of the study placed all the species belonging to the clade in an expanded Urceolina.[6]
Species of the former genera Eucharis and Caliphruria (except C. korsakoffii, now Stenomesson korsakoffii) as well as Eucrosia dodsonii (now Urceolina dodsonii) have been transferred to this genus.[6] Therefore, Urceolina includes the following species:[2][6]
Many of the species of the genus are endangered. For example, Urceolina hartwegiana and U. subedentata are threatened by extinction, and U. tenera is listed as extinct.[8][9]