Fred and all, Twin scaling is a method of propagating bulbs, whereby one slices vertically through the bulb from top to and through the basal plate, then cuts the slices horizontally between every other bulb scale. Thus you end up with many slices of bulb tissue with two bits of bulb scale attached by a bit of basal plate. Hence the term, "twin scale". The red discoloration may be any of several things. Stagnospora is a fungal infection characterized by a deep red discoloration of the infected parts, and controllable or possibly even curable. It is not a virus. As Alan Meerow mentioned, Hippeastrum have compounds in their tissues which, when exposed to light and oxygen in air, are oxidized to red pigments. These are harmless. Many plants, including Hippeastrum, may produce a red pigment when exposed to strong sunlight. These are naturally occurring plant pigments called anthocyanins, and are a protective mechanism in the plant. Regards, Jim Shields At 10:27 AM 12/9/2003 -0800, Fred Biasella wrote: >..... I have several >hippeastrums with this dicoloration as well. In the >past I had destroyed the bulbs thinking it was an >uncurable virus that would spread to my other >amarylllids. I'll have to try treating tem in the >future. ...... ************************************************* Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd. P.O. Box 92 WWW: http://www.shieldsgardens.com/ Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA Tel. ++1-317-867-3344 or toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA Member of INTERNATIONAL CLIVIA CO-OP