FLAME LILY

FLAME LILY (Gloriosa Superba)

CLASSIFICATION

• Kingdom-Plantae
• Division -Spermatophyta
• Class-Liliopsida
• Subclass-Lilidae
• Order-Liliales
• Family -Liliaceae
• Genus-Gloriosa
• Species -Gloriosa superba

COMMON  NAMES
Glory lily,creeping lily,flame lily,climbing lily

INTRODUCTION
   Gloriosa superba is a famous plant because of its flame like flower and its poisonous parts.This plant contains high levels of toxic alkaloid colchicine, specially in tubers.These tubers can be fatal to humans and animals.

DISTRIBUTION
   This plant is native of tropical Asia &Africa.It mostly found in Tropical India,Madagascar,Sri Lanka ,Indo -China.This plant is mostly suitable for shade or sun.It grows naturally in a wide variety of habitats like forests, grasslands.It grows mostly  sandy loam soil in sunny positions.

CHARACTERISTICS
   Gloriosa superba is a deciduous ,tuberous plant that climbes up to 1.5m tall.Normally it has 1-4 slendar stems.Stems are produced annually and they are upright to scrambling and grow up to 4m long.

  The leaves are shiny,bright green and elongated.Leaves are arranged alternately or opposite .Their tips modified as tendrils.These tendrils help to cling and scrambling plant.Each leave has strong parallel veins and tapers.The stems die back in late summer.

  The showy flowers are borne in summer (November to March).Flowers are borne on long pedicels on the upper parts of the stems.These flowers are yellow,orange and red in colour.So it looks like flame.These colours are depend with its age.

  Flower has 6 petals which consist of yellow with reddish orange .Flower petals are widely separated and with frilled margins.Petals are normally bent backwards ,so that they are pointing upwards.It has 6 outward spreading  stamens.Stamens present in a ring around the flower(up to 1-2inches long)Their topped with large anothers.Base of the flower is made up of the large ,shiny green ovary tipped by the style.

POLLINATING & GROWING
     In their native habitat flowers are likely pollinated by butterflies and sunbirds.Pollinated flowers are followed by fleshy,oblong fruits.This fruit looks like leathery 3 valved capsule.This plant can be planted by using tubers.Place them carefully in horizontal position,2-5inches deep.Germination takes place at warm temperature between 20-25°C.Young plants grow rapidly.The plant takes 3-4 years to bloom 1st flower.

IMPORTANCE
  This flower is also known as the national flower of Zimbabwe.Although poisonous ,the plant is often used in traditional medicine in Asia & Africa .In Nigeria the plant is used in arrow poison.It is also popular for giving colour in greenhouse & conservatories.Flowers are used in religious ceromonies.