Crinum malabaricum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asparagales, it is situated in the family Amaryllidaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Crinum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within the vast region of the Indian Subcontinent. Its natural occurrence is specifically centered in the country of India. Within this territory, it thrives in various local habitats suitable for its growth. The distribution of this species is relatively concentrated rather than being globally widespread. Consequently, India serves as the principal geographical home for Crinum malabaricum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Crinum malabaricum is characterized by its specialized survival strategy as a perennial herb that utilizes underground storage organs to endure varying environmental conditions. It functions primarily as a geophyte, relying on its large, fleshy bulb to store nutrients and moisture, which allows it to persist during dormant periods. This classification as a cryptophyte indicates that its perennating buds are located safely beneath the soil surface, protecting them from external stressors such as herbivory or seasonal desiccation. Throughout its life cycle, the plant transitions from vegetative growth fueled by the bulb to a reproductive phase where it produces distinctive foliage and inflorescences, eventually returning to a state of subterranean dormancy to ensure long-term survival.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Crinum malabaricum is characterized by its growth habit as a self-supporting plant, as it does not function as a climber and lacks the structural mechanisms for obligatory, facultative, or self-supporting climbing. It exists as an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies such as being an obligatory, facultative, or independent parasite. Furthermore, the plant maintains a terrestrial lifestyle, distinguishing it from epiphytic species by being strictly terrestrial rather than an obligatory, facultative, or facultative epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Crinum malabaricum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include galanthamine.

galanthamine

1. Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)