Family: Amaryllidaceae
Common name: Poison bulb, Poison lily, Giant crinum lily, Crinum lily, Seashore lily, Grand crinum lily, Asiatic poison lily, Spider lily, Giant spider lily, Seashore crinum, Nagadamani, Antidote lily
Poison bulb or Poison lily is a tall, flower-bearing plant loved for their broad, green leaves and thick bunches of flowers. They are native to the tropical and subtropical countries in the Asian continent, though they can be grown anywhere in warm, humid weather.
Plant characteristics
These plants grow to the height of 1-1.2 meters mostly because of the tall leaves, which arise from very close to the root.
The stem is short and thick, almost covered by the bases of several arching leaves that arise from it. Root system is composed of large, rounded bulbs that are 15-20 cm in diameter.
Leaves of the Poison bulb plant are long, glossy green, and strap-like. Each leaf can grow to a length of 1.5 to 2 meters, arranged in a rosette pattern around the center of the plant.
These leaves arch outwards and downwards creating a graceful, flowy appearance that looks like a waterpark slide. Edges of the laves are smooth or slightly wavy, and the surface is waxy helping the plant to prevent evaporation of water. Long veins along the length of the leaves also add to their aesthetic appeal.
Long flower stalks emerge from the center of the Poison lily plant growing to a height of 60-90 meters bursting out in a firework of white or red showy flowers.
Each flower is 10-15 cm in diameter with six thin, strap-like petals that curve outwards and downwards, and prominent stamens.
The plant flowers during spring and summer, in large clusters of 15-20 flowers that attract pollinators to them. The flowering period is quite long, making the plant very attractive in gardens and parks.
Fruits of the Poison lily are rounded green capsules that turn brown on maturity. These fruits contain numerous small, black seeds that can be dispersed by wind or water.
Gardening tips
Poison lily plants need bright, direct sunlight to grow and flower well. They can tolerate partial shade of large trees, but if they are grown indoors or in total shade, the plant can become frail and unhealthy.
Water and fertilize regularly to help the plant produce flowers and fruits. Old and yellowed leaves can be removed from the plant; no other pruning needed. When grown in pots or flower beds, new plants are produced from the root bulbs, filling an area quickly.
All parts of the plant are toxic to pets and humans, as the name rightly suggests. So care must be taken to ensure that they are not consumed by small children or pets, since it can cause vomiting, stomach pain, fever, irregular breathing etc. on consumption.
They are tolerant of salt water and salt sprays, and can hence be grown in coastal areas, in parks near the beach.
Poison lily plants are very closely related to Spider lily or Hymenocallis littoralis, a much shorter cousin belonging to the same family. The flowers of Hymenocallis littoralis are characterized by a thin white web between the petals, which is not present in Poison lily plants.
Uses of Poison lily plants
Poison lily plants are mostly used as ornamental plants in gardens, urban landscaped areas, butterfly parks etc. due to their beautiful foliage and large clusters of flowers.
Though the plant is toxic, parts of it has been used in traditional herbal medicine to treat bacterial infections, poisoning, rheumatism, ear infections, sprains, cuts, and hemorrhoids.
This comes with a warning that no part of the plant should be consumed without expert medical advise.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds and bulb division, both of them very effective.
Seeds taken from mature fruit capsules can be dried and sowed in soil to germinate. However the seeds don’t store well for long. So they should be sowed very quickly after they are taken from the plant.
Mature plants produce small bulbs and offsets plants all around them, which can be carefully separated, without breaking the bulb, and replanted to produced new plants.
Photographed: Bentota beach area, Sri Lanka; Bangalore
