Crinum zeylanicum
(L.) L.
Amaryllidaceae
This species is often reported as occurring in Africa. However, the African Plant Database[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
] says that this is a misidentification for three species occurring there - these are Crinum kirkii Baker; Crinum ornatum (L. f. ex Aiton) Bury; and Crinum politifolium R. Wahlstr.[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
,
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Amaryllis zeylanica L.
Crinum latifolium zeylanicum (L.) Hook.f.
Crinum ornatum zeylanicum (L.) Herb.
Taenais zeylanica (L.) Salisb.
Common Name:
General Information
Crinum zeylanicum is a perennial plant growing up to 120 cm tall from a bulb that can be 6 - 20cm in diameter. Around 9 - 12 elliptical, mostly prostrate leaves are produced, these can be 20 - 70cm long and 3 - 7cm wide[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental, valued especially for its fragrant flowers.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
E. Asia - Seychelles, southwest India, Sri Lanka.
Habitat
Slightly moist sites in savannah, and along sandy sea-coasts[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Bulb |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in full sun or partial shade, requiring a well-drained soil[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
].
Bulbs are sensitive to transplanting and can take several years to become established. After this, they will usually reproduce rapidly from offsets to produce the overcrowded conditions that stimulate them to flower freely[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The bulb is very acrid and, when taken internally, causes severe diarrhoea[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Applied externally, the bulb is rubefacient, causing inflammation of the skin and the mucous membranes. It is applied topically to rheumatic joints as a way of relieving the condition[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The leaves are applied topically to injuries and ulcers[310. The leaf juice is used for relieving earache[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, placing 2 - 3 seeds in individual pots. Do not cover the seed. Once they have germinated, you can thin each pot to just one plant if required, though we have not found this to be necessary. Give an occasional liquid feed to ensure that the plants do not suffer nutritional deficiencies. Grow them on until large enough to plant out.
Division of offsets when the plant is dormant.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
