What is "alstroemeria"

alstroemeria \alstroemeria\ n. 1. any of various South American plants of the genus Alstroemeria valued for their handsome umbels of beautiful flowers.

n. Any member of the genus (taxlink Alstroemeria genus noshow=1) of South American flowering plants, the Peruvian lily.

n. any of various South American plants of the genus Alstroemeria valued for their handsome umbels of beautiful flowers

Alstroemeria , commonly called the Peruvian lily or lily of the Incas, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Alstroemeriaceae. They are all native to South America although some have become naturalized in the United States, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Madeira and the Canary Islands. Almost all of the species are restricted to one of two distinct centers of diversity, one in central Chile, the other in eastern Brazil. Species of Alstroemeria from Chile are winter-growing plants while those of Brazil are summer-growing. All are long-lived perennials except A. graminea, a diminutive annual from the Atacama Desert of Chile.