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Crinum amabile
Scientific Name: Crinum amabile
Family: Liliaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Crinum asiaticum: The Giant Spider Lily
Crinum asiaticum, also known as the Giant Crinum Lily, Asiatic Poison Bulb/Lily, or Seashore Lily, is a bulb-forming perennial widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in warmer regions. The name "Giant Spider Lily" is also commonly used to refer to Crinum amabile.
Considerations for Pets
- The plant is sometimes referred to as "Asiatic Poison Bulb/Lily," which may indicate the presence of toxic substances.
Considerations for Children
- The plant is sometimes referred to as "Asiatic Poison Bulb/Lily," which may indicate the presence of toxic substances.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Crinum asiaticum L.
- Family: Amaryllidaceae (and historically Liliaceae)
- Synonyms:
- Crinum amabile Ker Gawl. (often considered a hybrid of C. zeylanicum and C. asiaticum)
- Crinum amabile Donn.
- Crinum amabile Donn ex Ker Gawl.
- Crinum macrantherum Engl.
- Crinum defixum auct. non Ker Gawl.
- Crinum macrophyllum Hallier.
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to tropical areas of Asia.
- Frequently found growing on sandy seashores or in back mangrove areas.
- A favorite landscape plant in Florida and the Gulf Coast region.
Morphological Characteristics
- Herbaceous perennial growing from a fleshy bulb that can be 3 to 4 1/2 inches thick.
- Can grow to almost 2 meters in height.
- Leaves are linear and leathery, growing in a rosette, and can reach up to five feet long and 12 cm broad.
- Produces an umbel of approximately 25 white flowers on pedicels that are 2.5-5 cm long.
Quirky Facts
- Crinum asiaticum is one of the largest of all bulbs at maturity, with a leek-like base that can be up to eight inches in diameter.
Chemical Composition
- Bulbs of Vietnamese Crinum amabile contain alkaloids such as lycorine, buphanisine, augustine, ambelline, and flexinine.
- A new natural product, amabiloside, has been isolated from the bulbs of Crinum amabile Donn.
Traditional Uses and Research
- Studies have investigated the antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties of Crinum asiaticum bulb extracts.
- Research has focused on cytotoxic and antimalarial alkaloids from the bulbs of Crinum amabile.
Further Information
- Further information can be found at the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden and the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.
- Taxonomic information available from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), with TSN 182711 for Crinum asiaticum and TSN 182709 related to Crinum amabile.