Vishnevetsky, J., Dept. of Agricultural Botany, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Azizbekova, N., Dept. of Agricultural Botany, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Ziv, M., Dept. of Agricultural Botany, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Lilien-Kipnis, H., Dept. of Ornamental Horticulture, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel

Nerines are autumn flowering perennial bulbous plants native to Southern Africa belonging to family Amaryllidaceae. Nerine sarniensis is considered the most beautiful of all Nerine species and has a great potential as a cut flower. Irregular flowering is often encountered in commercial flower production and this might be due to incomplete flower differentiation or flower abortion. The control of flower production through manipulation of environmental conditions during growth and bulb storage, requires information on the onset and duration of the various stages of differentiation, growth and development. The annual life cycle of N.sarniensis is characterized by autumn flowering prior to leaf emergence, active leaf growth during winter and early spring, followed by leaf senescence and a rest period during the hot dry summer. For most of the year the bulb contains two inflorescence buds at different developmental stages. Inflorescence development from initiation to anthesis lasted 21-22 months, indicating that active development occurred in the bulb during its rest period.