Herb's Introduction
Hymenocallis speciosa, also known as the Green-tinge Spiderlily, is a beautiful, bulbous perennial plant native to the Windward Islands of the Caribbean. It belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, which also includes other well-known plants like daffodils and amaryllis. The name Hymenocallis comes from the Greek words "hymen" (membrane) and "kallos" (beauty), a reference to the delicate membranous cup of its flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant due to its unique and fragrant flowers and attractive, strap-like leaves.
Name in Different Countries
The most common name for this plant and other species in the genus Hymenocallis is the "Spider Lily," due to the long, slender petals that resemble spider legs. In Chinese, it is known as 螯蟹百合 (chélè bǎihé), which translates to "crab-claw lily." The provided information also mentions the synonym Pancratium speciosum.
Terminology
Perennial: A plant that lives for more than two years.
Bulbous: A plant that grows from a bulb, an underground storage organ.
Geophyte: A plant that has underground buds, such as a bulb, corm, or rhizome.
Evergreen: A plant that retains its foliage throughout the year.
Umbel: A type of flower cluster where all the individual flower stalks (pedicels) radiate from a single point at the top of a main stalk (scape).
Tepals: The outer parts of a flower, which cannot be easily differentiated into sepals and petals. In Hymenocallis speciosa, the tepals are long, slender, and reflexed (curled backwards).
Corona: A crown-like growth on the inside of the corolla (the collective petals), which forms a cup-like structure in the center of the flower.
Availability
Hymenocallis speciosa is not a common plant to find in the wild, and is even considered extinct in its native habitat. However, it is widely grown for ornamental purposes and is available for purchase from specialty nurseries and online plant shops. It is a popular garden plant in tropical and subtropical regions and can also be grown in containers in cooler climates if brought indoors during winter.
External Look
The plant grows from an ovoid or globe-shaped bulb and forms a clump of foliage. The leaves are evergreen, lanceolate (lance-shaped), and dark green, growing up to 50 cm long and 10 cm across. The plant produces a single flower stalk, or scape, up to 50 cm tall. The flowers are in an umbel, with up to 20 flowers per stalk. The flowers are distinctive and elegant, with a slight greenish tinge to their overall white color. They have a pleasant vanilla fragrance. The long, slender tepals reflex backward from a prominent central cup, which is formed by the fused bases of the filaments. This unique structure is what gives the plant its "spider lily" appearance.
Healing Properties, Advantages, Uses, and Using Way
The plant's medicinal properties and uses are primarily associated with the bulb and, to a lesser extent, the leaves and roots. Many of the listed medicinal properties are based on studies of a related species, Hymenocallis littoralis, but the genus shares many characteristics.
Toxicity: The bulbs contain various alkaloids, and the plant is considered mildly toxic to humans if ingested, causing stomach upset. It's crucial not to eat any part of the plant.
Anti-tumor and Anti-cancer Properties: Research on the alkaloids found in the bulbs, such as pancratistatin, has shown excellent in-vitro and in-vivo cytotoxicity against many tumor cell lines. This makes it a potential source for drug development.
Antiviral and Antimicrobial Properties: Extracts from the plant, particularly the bulb and roots, have shown inhibitory activity against various organisms, including E. coli, S. aureus, and Candida albicans. Some alkaloids have also shown inhibitory activity against HIV.
Wound Healing: In some traditional folk medicine, the bulb is the only part of the plant used for wound healing.
Other Traditional Uses: The bulb is traditionally used as an astringent, diuretic, emetic (to induce vomiting), and expectorant. In some cultures, the grated pulp of the bulb is applied to the skin to treat swellings and to extract skin parasites. Heated leaves have been used as an external treatment for malaria and sprains. The leaves are also used to stimulate hair growth.
Usage: Based on traditional practices, the plant is typically used in the form of topical applications (e.g., as a paste from the grated bulb or heated leaves) or as a decoction (a liquid extract made by boiling plant parts in water), though specific dosages and preparation methods for human use are not provided in the search results and should not be attempted without expert guidance due to the plant's toxicity.
Conclusion
Hymenocallis speciosa is a striking ornamental plant with a captivating appearance and fragrant flowers that live up to its name, "beautiful membrane." Beyond its decorative value, it holds significant potential in the field of medicine, particularly for its anti-tumor and antimicrobial properties. While traditionally used for various ailments, the plant's toxicity requires caution, and its use should be limited to cultivation for its beauty rather than self-medication. The plant's unique appearance and potential for drug discovery make it a subject of ongoing interest for both horticulturists and scientists.
