Paramongaia weberbaueri

Ian & Jocelyn Bell (March 11, 2007)
New Zealand

Dennis Tsang (June 23, 2006)
Hong Kong

Graham Duncan (26 Jun 2003)
Cape Town, South Africa

This large flowering Peruvian native and member of the Amaryllis family--also known as Cojomaria—looks like the "Daffodil from Mars" as it is so unusual. Introduced to the US in 1965, it is the only species of the genus and requires high huimidity with good circulation to bloom.

Gary Buckley (7/3/2000)

Dr. Alan Meerow

Dylan Hannon

Hugh Bollinger

Introduction: Paramongaia weberbaueri is known by local Peruvians as cojomaria. It is reported that during the flowering season, children of villages near the habitat collect the powerfully scented flowers and sell them to people driving past the Huaraz - Casma Road in central Peru.

Origin: Department of Ancash on the high Andes of Peru. However, it also said that the species is native to Lomas de Lupin, between Huarmey and Barranca, at 225 km north of Lima, on the Pan American Highway, along the coast. The genus name seems to be coincided with the coastal township of Paramonga in the northern part of Department of Lima, however, there is no record of any Paramongaia being native to that area.

Habitat: P. weberbaueri is endemic to extremely steep and dry hillslopes (Cordillera Negra), from 2700 m to 3000 m in the Department of Ancash in central Peru. These slopes are basically barren or sparsely covered with scrub, almost chapparal-like where bulbs grow at about 30 cm below decomposed granite. This area experiences scorching summer heat and cold /freezing rainy winter. Len Doran comments that this species grows in intense sunlight, as you can see from the slightly glaucous leaves that reflect strong sunlight. I believe that the absence of thick layers of papery tunics on the bulb may suggest the habitat is not as dry as it seems to be.

Cultivation: Paramongaia weberbaueri is a winter growing species which stays dormant for almost 6 months. I raised bulbs from seed a few years ago. Viability of seed is very low - I would say 5% in my experience but once the seedlings have started growing, they are easy to maintain. I grow bulbs in a mixture of small rock chips (3 parts), vermiculite (4 parts) and sand (3 parts) and keep them completely dry during summer months and a small amount of watering is provided only when there is sign of growth. The bulbs are cultivated in plastic pot with the tip of the bulb just beneath soil level, in a location where they receive strong sunlight.

Although my bulbs are free of any pests, I believe that mealybugs could be a major pest to Paramongaia weberbaueri. Frequent spraying is strongly recommended.

It is reported that this species grows well in southern California, New Zealand and the southern states of Australia. In more severe climates, bulbs should be kept inside a warm house during winter time. Related species: Two related species are reported:

P. superba is said to be native to the Amarete River valley in the Department of La Paz, Bolivia.

P. herbertha has been mentioned in PLANT LIFE 1983 but there is no detailed information on this species.

Further reading: PLANT LIFE 1954, p.50, PLANT LIFE 1967, p.42-44, PLANT LIFE 1973, p.94-96, PLANT LIFE 1981, p.83, THE LARGER BULBS, p.120, BULBS by John Bryan, p. 303. For Paramongaia superba: PLANT LIFE 1982, p.21 and p.54, HERBERTIA 1988-2, p.35. For information of seed propagation of P. herbertha, please refer to PLANT LIFE 1983, p.115.

Dennis Tsang (29 June 2003)
Hong Kong