Amaryllis belladonna is a bulbous plant and one of two species in the Amaryllis genus. It is native to the Western Cape region of South Africa. The flowering plant is sometimes referred as the March lily because the flower’s shape resembles a lily, but it is not a true lily. The plant has a symbiotic relationship with carpenter bees and the hawk moth. These insects are thought to be the primary pollinators for the March lily. The March lily bulb contains lycorine, a toxic alkaloid.
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The Zulu Kingdom existed from 1816 to 1897. It was a small kingdom located in Eastern South Africa. Through its military prowess, it was able to quickly gain dominance over neighboring tribes. Throughout the 1870’s, opposing Zulu and British interests intensified and resulted in the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War. Although the British were defeated during the opening Battle of Isandlwana, they prevailed and absorbed the Zulu territory into the colony of Natal, one of the four founding provinces of South Africa.
