http://www.plantingflowerbulbs.com/amaryllis-belladonna-the-belladonna-lily. htm http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/amarylbella.htm http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2377/ http://www.plant-biology.com/Amaryllis-belladonnaLily-naked-ladies.php
Hello,
Indeed, there are of course differences in the use of words in various Italian regions. “Femmina” is quite common in Napels but in other parts of Italy it is used by schoolchildren up to 10 or 11 years of age.
Later it becomes at least a very “common” expression for the female sex in humans. It can be acceptable when used by women between themselves but mostly in the diminutive term “femminucce”.
These are clearly linguistic nuances which might not be interesting, yet evident in the spoken language.
In no case will “femmina” correspond to “lady” and during the very numerous encounters I have with garden lovers, the term “femmina nuda” will always provoke a kind of amusement in the listners. In older times and, again, now for people living in the Campania (Naples) the term “femmina” was and is quite acceptable. Elsewhere it is reserved for female animals.
Regards Henry, near Rome Italy