I. amancaes is a species with spherical bulbs 3.5–5 cm in diameter.[3][4] The leaves are strap-shaped, 25–50 cm long and 2.5–5 cm wide, bright green.[3][4] The 2–6 yellow pedicellate flowers are borne at the end of a scape up to 33 cm long.[3] The floral tube is greenish yellow, 5–7.5 cm long, bearing at the end the tepals, which are linear to narrowly lanceolate, 6–7.5 cm long, with green tips.[3][5] The floral corona is funnel-shaped, yellow with green stripes, 5–6 cm long, 6–8.5 cm wide, bearing the stamens facing inwards.[3][5][4]
Endemic to Peru, Ismene amancaes inhabits coastal hills up to 1500 m of elevation, especially near the city of Lima, as part of the lomas ecosystem.[5][6][4][7]
Remains of I. amancaes have been found in archaeological sites near the city of Lima.[10]
The flowering of this species was the subject of a festival ("Festival de Amancaise") celebrated in June in Lima, until the first half of the 1800s.[11] In a place among the hills surrounding Lima, people from the city gathered annually to celebrate the flowering of the plant in a festival with music and dance, similar to May Day.[11] The festival attracted people from all classes of the society then, while a common sight was people sporting the flowers in their garments.[11]
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