Flame lily
Gloriosa superba

Family: Colchicaceae

What it is like

A scrambling herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1.5 m long. The leaves are alternate. The leaf tips end in a coiled tendril. The flowers are orange or red and have 6 tepals that curve backwards. There are 6 long stamen that spread out parallel to the ground under the flower. The fruit is a leathery capsule with bright red seeds.

There are about 5 Gloriosa species. Some say it is one variable species. Gloriosa superba rhizomes in China are rich in the alkaloid colchicine. The plant are used for the treatment of gout. In Slovenia possibly in a hot house.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in grassland and woodland. In southern China it grows between 900-1,300 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Mozambique, Nepal, Pacific, Rotuma, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tuvalu, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: Many plants in this genus are poisonous. The tubers contain the poison colchicine. The leaves are eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, caution, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from bulblets, division of the tubers and from seeds. Seeds germinate better if soaked in hot water.

Its other names

Local names

Bunga sung-sang, Cumaretron, Cumaro-turo, Gondivoro, Kalihari, Mokuku, Papassuque, Razkošna lilija, Simidauk, Tititamba, Vehathan, Vihalagondi, Yemariam twa

Synonyms

Gloriosa simplex L.; Gloriosa virescens Lindl.;