My brother, an anthropologist, gave me this tidbit when I was writing a book about bulbs. From my research notes: _Amencaes_ is the Peruvian name for their native summer daffodil, used as its species name, _Hymenocallis_ _amencaes_. My brother, Ben Orlove, remembers a song he'd heard, a "vals criollo" that mentions the flowers. Written and composed by Chabuca Granda, this kind of waltz used to be popular on the coast of Peru. The lyrics go something like this: "Elegantly dressed in traditional style, wearing a poncho of white linen, "Jose Antonio" is an accomplished horseman, showing fine mastery riding his horse. Why, asks the woman, why did he leave her, hoping that when he returns to see the amancay in bloom, he will sweep her up on his horse." Enjoy. Judy in New Jersey where there are gray and gloomy skies but temperatures are high enough for precipitation to descend as rain rather than the white stuff