''Alstroemeria aurea'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Alstroemeriaceae,

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to Chile and Argentina, but naturalised in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It is also widely cultivated as an ornamental. Common names include yellow alstroemeria, though cultivars have been selected in a range of colours. The name Peruvian lily is often applied to this and other species of ''Alstroemeria'', despite the fact that most are not native to that country. Growing to tall by broad, it is a herbaceous

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wid ...

with brittle, fleshy roots beneath erect stems with narrow leaves. Many orchid-like flowers in brilliant shades of yellow and orange. appear in early to midsummer. The flowers may be heavily spotted or striped with red or brown. If undisturbed, plants will spread rapidly in benign conditions. When cultivated it is one of the hardiest alstroemerias, surviving temperatures of . It requires a sheltered spot in sun or part shade. The Latin specific epithet ''aureum'' means "golden". Alstroemeria aurea Graham (AM AK348212-5).jpg WitteHeinrichFlora1868-026-Alstroemeria aurea.png Alstroemeria aurea in Jardin des Plantes de Paris-2.jpg

References

{{Liliales-stub Flora of Chile Flora of Argentina

aurea Aurea, golden in Latin, may refer to: * Aurea (car), a former Italian automobile manufactured in Turin from 1921 to 1930 * Aurea (singer) (born 1987), Portuguese singer * Aurea Alexandrina, a kind of opiate or antidote * Áurea, a municipality ...