The flame lily, fire lily, gloriosa lily, glory lily, superb lily, climbing lily, and creeping lily are the other comon names.. Gloriosa is a monocot belonging to the Order Liliaceae having 5-6 species in the family Colchicaceae. It is a native of tropical Africa and Asia..
The plants are tender, tuberous rooted deciduous perennials apt for the summer rainfall with a dormant dry season. Gloriosa Lily plants can reach up to 1-2 meters in height. It uses the thin tendrils at the end of the leaves to climb up whatever support structure they can cling on to.
Their native range is Africa, Southeastern Asia and parts of Malaysia, but they are now widely cultivated.
All parts of the plant contain colchicine and related alkaloids and are therefore dangerously toxic if ingested, especially the tubers. Contact with the stems, branches and leaves can cause skin irritation.
Various preparations of the plant are used in traditional medicines for a variety of complaints in both Africa and India. Tubers or rhizomes have anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, arbortifacient and antileprotic properties. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine the plant is used as a remedy for stomach pains, inflammation, itching and thirst as well as a laxative. Juice from the leaves kills lice. Plant extract can be uses as pesticides and so are useful in agriculture.
Gloriosa is a plant that has captured the imagination and hearts of people world wide. As a matter of fact, one of its species, the Gloriosa superba is chosen as the national flower of Zimbabwe (where it is a protected plant). It is also the state flower ofTamil Naidu state in India, This is definitely an unusual plant to behold. From its toxic defense mechanism to the beautiful flowers that it bears, the plant is one of nature’s most unique creations.
I had brought this flower from Zambia with me in 2nd year college for my herberium. My herberium had a numer of unusual plants. The herberium file was stolen after the practicals. Don’t know who took it to this day maybe this flower and some other flowers fascinated the person who took it..
renukakkar 24.4.2011
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