Crinum asiaticum (Grand crinum lily, Poison bulb, Giant crinum lily) is a species of flowering plant of the family Amaryllidaceae, native to tropical southeastern Asia.
Crinum asiaticum is a bulb-forming perennial with several cultivars exist, some with bronze, purple or variegated foliage. The columnar, stem-like bulb, 30-45 cm long and 5-9 kilogram, grows mostly above the ground. The dark green, flat, strap-like leaves, 1 m long and 10 cm wide, emerge from the giant bulbs and are held erect and arranged in a spiral rosette, forming clumps up to 1.5 m tall and 2 m wide. Newly emerged leaves are erect becoming sprawling with age, making the plant as tall as it is broad, often greater than 1.8 m tall.
The fragrant flower is radically symmetrical, erect, and salver-shaped. It has 6 pure white, or striped with claret-red or tinted with rose-purple petals that are flaring or gracefully rolled back and are joined at the base forming a long tube, up to 10 cm long. The flowers arise from the bulb on a long flower stalk, 1.2 -1.7 m long, that is separated from the leaves, consisting 20-30 flowers forming a showy umbel at the tip. The inflorescence is an umbel that opens from the outside inwards, and stands between and a little above the foliage. The flowers are pleasantly fragrance, especially during the night and morning hours. An umbel of flowers is spent in about 3 weeks, and the starts to weaken as the fruit begins to form. Majority of fruits never come to maturity, if formed, the fruit is irregularly globose.
Crinum asiaticum grows well in full sun to partial shade, in well-drained soil. Propagation is by division of offsets and seeds. The young seedlings do not bear flowers for 3-4 years. The plant is commonly reproduces by suckers and eventually forms an impressive clump. Division of suckers is the common and preferred method of propagation. Pests and diseases are lubber grasshopper, banded green-house thrips and leaf spots. All parts of the plant are considered toxic.
Crinum asiaticum var. japonicum http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crinum_asiaticum1YUNPHOTO.jpg Yun Free Stock Photos
Crinum asiaticum http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crinum_asiaticum_2.jpg Franz Xaver
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crinum_asiaticum1YUNPHOTO.jpg
Yun Free Stock Photos
