Crinum asiaticum

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Asparagales

Familia: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamilia: Amaryllidoideae
Tribus: Amaryllideae
Subtribus: Crininae
Genus: Crinum
Species: Crinum asiaticum
Varietates (4): C. a. var. asiaticum – C. a. var. japonicum – C. a. var. pedunculatum – C. a. var. sinicum
Name

Crinum asiaticum L., Sp. Pl. 1: 292 (1753).
Synonymy

Homotypic
Bulbine asiatica (L.) Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: 42 (1788).
Crinum brevifolium Roxb., Hort. Bengal.: 23 (1814), nom. superfl.
Crinum toxicarium var. asiaticum (L.) Herb., Bot. Mag. 47: t. 2121 (1820), nom. superfl.

Hybrids

Crinum × amabile Donn ex Ker Gawl.
Crinum × brownii Herb., nom. inval.
Crinum × decandollii Herb., nom. inval.
Crinum × letitiae Herb., nom. inval.
Crinum × mitchamiae Herb., nom. inval.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Africa
Regional: Western Indian Ocean
Chagos Archipelago, Comoros (introduced), Mauritius, Madagascar (introduced), Réunion, Rodrigues, Seychelles.
Continental: Asia-Temperate
Regional: China
China Southeast.
Regional: Eastern Asia
Japan, Korea, Nansei-shoto, Ogasawara-shoto, Taiwan.
Continental: Asia-Tropical
Regional: Indian Subcontinent
Assam, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka.
Regional: Indo-China
Andaman Islands, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nicobar Islands, South China Sea, Thailand, Vietnam.
Regional: Malesia
Borneo, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Islands, Malaya, Maluku, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Christmas Island.
Regional: Papuasia
Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, Solomon Islands.
Continental: Australasia
Regional: Australia
Norfolk Islands, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland.
Continental: Pacific
Regional: Southwestern Pacific
Fiji, Gilbert Islands, Nauru (introduced), New Caledonia, Phoenix Islands (introduced), Samoa, Tokelau-Manihiki, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu (introduced).
Regional: South-Central Pacific
Cook Islands, Line Islands, Pitcairn Islands, Society Islands, Tuamotu, Tubuai Islands (introduced).
Regional: Northwestern Pacific
Caroline Islands, Marianas, Marshall Islands (introduced).
Continental: Northern America (introduced)
Regional: Southeastern U.S.A.
Florida, Louisiana.
Regional: Mexico
Mexico Central, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Mexico Southeast.
Continental: Southern America (introduced)
Regional: Caribbean
Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuelan Antilles, Windward Islands.

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus I: 292. Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2018. Crinum asiaticum in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2018 Jul. 27. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2018. Crinum asiaticum. Published online. Accessed: Jul. 27 2018.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Crinum asiaticum in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
English: Poison Lily, Spider Lily
svenska: Strandkrinum
ไทย: พลับพลึง, วิรงรอง

Crinum asiaticum, commonly known as poison bulb, giant crinum lily, grand crinum lily, or spider lily,[2] is a plant species widely planted in many warmer regions as an ornamental. It is a bulb-forming perennial producing an umbel of large, showy flowers that are prized by gardeners. However, all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested. Some reports indicate exposure to the sap may cause skin irritation.[2][3]

C. asiaticum is native to Indian Ocean islands, East Asia, tropical Asia, Australia and Pacific islands. It is regarded as naturalized in Mexico, the West Indies, Florida, Louisiana, numerous Pacific islands, Madagascar and the Chagos Archipelago.[1]
Description

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C. asiaticum is a perennial herb that typically grows up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft) tall.[4] It has a leaf base. Its pseudobulb is spherical. The upper part of the bulb is cylindrical. The base is laterally branched, with a diameter of about 6–15 cm. Its leaves are lanceolate, margin undulate, apically acuminate. They feature 1 sharp point and are dark green, growing up to 1 m long. Their width is 7–12 cm or wider and they number 20-30. The inflorescence is an umbel with 10-24 flowers, six petaloid tepals, and aromatic. The flower stem is erect, as long as the leaf, and solid. The spathe is lanceolate, membranous, and 6–10 cm. The bractlet liner is 3–7 cm. Its perianth tube is slender and straight, green white, 7–10 cm, diameter 1.5–2 mm. The corolla is spider-like shaped, white, linear, revolute, attenuate, 4.5–9 cm long, and 6–9 mm wide. The corolla is 6-lobed. The pedicel is ca 0.5-2.5 cm long. It has 6 reddish stamens. The filaments are 4–5 cm long. The anthers are liner, attenuate, ca. 1.5 cm long or more. The ovary is fusiform, and up to 2 cm long. The fruit is an oblate capsule, green, and 3–5 cm in diameter. The seeds are large, and the exotesta is spongy.
Toxicity

The entire plant is toxic, especially the bulb.[4] It contains a variety of alkaloids such as lycorine[5] and tazettine. When eaten, it can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, constipation, irregular breathing, rapid pulse, fever, etc.; sufficient misuse can cause nervous system paralysis and death.[6]
References

"Crinum asiaticum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
"PlantFiles: Poison Bulb, Giant Crinum Lily, Grand Crinum Lily, Spider Lily Crinum asiaticum". Dave's Garden. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
"Crinum asiaticum". floridata.com. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
"Crinum asiaticum - L." Plants for a Future. Archived from the original on 2010-09-24. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
"Protection of human erythrocyte using Crinum asiaticum extract and lycorine from oxidative damage induced by 2-amidinopropane". Pub Med. 18 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2022-01-16. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
"Crinum Lily Poisonous or Toxic: Are Crinum Lilies Safe To Grow?". Plant Care Today. Archived from the original on 2022-01-16. Retrieved 16 January 2022.