River crinum lily
Crinum viviparum

Family: Amaryllidaceae

What it is like

A water plant. It is a herb. It can be 1 m tall. It can flower under water. The bulb is 5-8 cm across. It has a neck 5-15 cm long. There are 6-8 leaves. These can be 1 m long and 3 cm wide. They are dark green. The flowers are in a group at the top of a leafless stalk. This can be 40-75 cm long. There are 2 sword shaped bracts. The flowers open at night. They have a scent. There are 6 narrow spreading petals. They are 6-8 cm long. The stamen have red filaments.

There are over 100 Crinum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in rocky shallow river beds.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Indonesia, SE Asia

How it is used for food

Caution

Edible parts

Root, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bakong, Bunga tembaga suasa, Jalankhuri, Kaja gadda, Kesarchettu, Nagrikand, Sukdarshan, Vishamandala, Vishamungil

Synonyms

Amaryllis vivipara Lam.; Crinum defixum Ker.-Gawl.; and others