These little flowers were growing in the back corner of my back yard when I bought this house 25+ years ago. Over the years I have dug up the bulbs and transplanted them all over the property. But I don't know what they are. I've only seen them once in 25 years, when I saw them growing in a marshy area alongside a golf course. I suspect they aren't very popular because they only bloom once per year around the 1st of June, and then only for 2 weeks, max.
Hi blmlb, cant say I recognise this, but from studying the pic, I would lean towards something from the Amaryillis family, they look like the same strap like leaves and the flower shape, though this is a huge family, If these are bulbs, they will only flower once each year, then the flowers and foliage die down for winter and pop up again next June, they are lovely whatever they are, and obviously like the spot you have given them, could one of your gov departments help you identify this, if no one else can help here, then just enjoy them, and be happy you have something so different. Good Luck, WeeNel.
Not sure, but they look like Rain Lilies, aka Zephyranthes. They're in the Amaryllidaceae family:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=Amaryllidaceae&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Zephyranthes&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
Rain lily - http://davesgarden.com/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=rain+lily&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
Hard to tell exactly which one is in your photo. If they don't set seed it is probably Zephyranthes candida. The seem to spread by underground runners (stolon) here in FL. Never seen one with a seed pod.
I call them the Crocus of the South. Many different color and hybrids.
Here are some very expensive bulbs from a grower - http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/page103.html
Most are called Zephyranthes, but, there are some know as Habranthus http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/page43.html and http://yuccado.com/displayengine//where%20ygroup=%27Bulbs,%20corms,%20tubers%27/next/15/6/Bulbs,%20Corms,%20Tubers
My photo below shows tall pink Habranthus and short white Zephyranthes.
Thank you all. I found my flower in the plantfiles. It is definitely Zephyranthes, Rain Lily, a variety called 'Libra" The plant file description fits perfectly. They propagate by seeds AND by offsets from the parent bulb.
The seeds are so light that they easily get windblown, and they compete very well no matter where they land. Every year about this time I see scattered flower stalks popping up thru the St. Augustine grass all over the yard, maybe a dozen or so total.
Again, thanks for the ID.
