Gloriosa superba
Content
Description
Leaves (including the tendril) 8-17.5(-25) by (1.25-)1.5-4(-4.5) cm;
Ovary 8-15 mm long;
Capsule 4-10 by c. 1.5-2 cm.
Seeds vivid-red or orange-red, with a fleshy testa, c. 5 mm ø, tardily falling.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: India present; Jawa (Jawa present), Kangean Is present, Lesser Sunda Is present, Madagascar present, Madura present, S. Celebes present, Tropical and southern Africa present
Tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, India to Indo-China; in Malesia: Java (also Madura and Kangean Is.), S. Celebes, and all Lesser Sunda Is.
Uses
Commonly grown as a garden ornamental. The tuber is said to be poisonous (through colchicin), but only slightly so as was tested by Boorsma (Backer, 1914; Heyne, 1927). .
Notes
In sterile state easily distinguished from another climbing monocot with coiled apical leaf- tendrils, Flagellaria indica L., by absence of a leaf-sheath.
Citation
Zoll. 1854 – In: Syst. Verz. p 66
Miq. 1859 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat. p 550
Gagnep. 1934 – In: Fl. Gen. I.-C. p 807
Santapau 1946 – In: J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. p 202
Holtt. 1958 – In: MAHA Mag. p 75
Back. 1914: p. 117. – In: Trop. Natuur. tab. col.
Back. 1924 – In: Handb. Fl. Java. p 50
H. Perrier 1938 – In: Fl. Madag. p 135
Hend. 1951 – In: Mal. Gard. Pl. p 10
Field 1971 – In: Kew Bull. p 243
Ridl. 1924 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen. p 338
Hutch. & Dalz. 1968 – In: Fl. W. Trop. Afr., ed. 2. p 106
Linne 1954: Mal. Wild Flow. Monoc: 178. f. 104
Baker 1897 – In: Fl. Cap. p 525
Petch 1925 – In: Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Perad. p 243
Heyne 1927: Nutt. Pl. p 436
Back. 1928: Onkr. Suiker. p 189
Silva 1945 – In: Ceyl. J. Sc. p 155
Crantz 1857 – In: Nat. Tijd. N. I. p 149
Linne 1933: Atlas. t. 201
Back. & Bakh.f. 1968 – In: Fl. Java. p 85