Gloriosa

? Gloriosa
Gloriosa rothschildiana
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Liliales Family: Colchicaceae Genus: Gloriosa L.
Species
See text.

Gloriosa is a genus of five species in the plant family Colchicaceae, from tropical Asia and Africa. They are tuberous rooted deciduous perennials, adapted to a monsoon climate with a dormant dry season.

Gloriosa climb or scramble over other plants with the aid of tendrils at the ends of their leaves and can reach 3 meters in height. They have showy red or orange flowers, distinctive because of their pronouncedly reflexed petals, like a Turk’s cap lily. The plant is sometimes called the Glory Lily or Flame Lily. G. rothschildiana is the national flower of Zimbabwe and was the national flower of Rhodesia.

The most common cultivated species are G. superba and G. rothschildiana.

Gloriosa superba

All parts of the plant are poisonous; the corms of the plant are used for extracting colchicine.

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