Hymenocallis littoralis, commonly known as the beach spider lily, is a species of plant in the amaryllis family Amaryllidaceae. It is native to warmer coastal regions of Latin America and a widely cultivated and naturalized plant in many tropical countries.[2]
| Beach spider lily | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Amaryllidoideae |
| Genus: | Hymenocallis |
| Species: | H. littoralis
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| Binomial name | |
| Hymenocallis littoralis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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List
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Etymology
editHymenocallis is derived from Greek and means 'membraned beauty', a reference to its filament cup.[3]
Littoralis means 'growing by the seashore'.[3]
Description
editHymenocallis littoralis is a bulbous perennial herb. It ranges in height from 60–70 cm (24-28 inches). The bulb is 7–10 cm (3-4 inches) in diameter. With age, the bulb develops a neck that reaches 4–5 cm in diameter (up to 2 inches). The flowers are large, white, vanilla scented, and sessile. The tepals are adnate (attached to) the staminal cup. Each flower's tube is 14 to 17 cm (5 to 7 inches) long or longer.[4]
Distribution
editHymenocallis littoralis is regarded as native to Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. It is considered naturalized in Angola, the Bismarck Archipelago, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Caroline Islands, the Central African Republic, the Chagos Archipelago, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, French Guiana, The Gambia, the Gilbert Islands, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, the Gulf of Guinea Islands, Hawaii, India, Java, the Line Islands, Marianas, Marquesas, the Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Nauru, Nigeria, Niue, Ogasawara-shoto, the Philippines, Samoa, the Seychelles, the Society Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tonga, Wake Island, Malaysia, Zaire and Zambia.[5]
Horticulture
editHymenocallis littoralis is often grown as an ornamental. It requires sunlight to partial shade for proper growth and blooms from mid-summer to late autumn with white flowers. It may be grown aquatically.[6]
Hymenocallis littoralis is included in the Tasmanian Fire Service's list of low flammability plants, indicating that it is suitable for growing within a building protection zone.[7]
Ethnopharmacology
editHymenocallis littoralis has been utilized for its medicinal value. The leaf and bulb extract contain anti-viral and anti-neoplastic properties, making it a traditional medicine for wound healing.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Tropicos Hymenocallis littoralis". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ^ NRCS. "Hymenocallis littoralis". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
- ^ a b Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN 9780521685535 (paperback). pp 207, 240
- ^ "The Amaryllis Family: Genus Hymenocallis", James E. Shields, October 2006, SGardens-Hymenocallis2
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Hymenocallis littoralis[permanent dead link]
- ^ Garden Bulbs for the South, Scott Ogden, 2007, page 226 ISBN 0-88192-813-5
- ^ Chladil and Sheridan, Mark and Jennifer. "Fire retardant garden plants for the urban fringe and rural areas" (PDF). www.fire.tas.gov.au. Tasmanian Fire Research Fund.
- ^ Nadaf, Naiem. "Biofilm inhibition mechanism from extract of Hymenocallis littoralis leaves". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 222 – via Science Direct.