milk-and-wine-lily

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• milk-and-wine-lily
• Ceylon swamplily

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Amaryllis zeylanica
• Crinum ornatum var. zeylanicum
• Crinum latifolium var. zeylanicum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further categorized under the order Asparagales and the family Amaryllidaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Crinum, within which the species C. zeylanicum is placed.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning across several tropical regions. In the Indian Subcontinent, it is commonly found in both India and Sri Lanka. Its presence extends to the Western Indian Ocean, specifically within the islands of Mauritius and the Seychelles. Additionally, the species can be located in West-Central Tropical Africa, particularly around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. This diverse range highlights the plant's ability to thrive in various maritime and continental environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Crinum zeylanicum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a geophyte, it survives unfavorable environmental conditions by storing nutrients and moisture in specialized underground structures, such as bulbs, which protect the plant's vital organs. This survival strategy is further defined by its classification as a cryptophyte, indicating that its regenerative buds are located underground or at the soil surface, shielded from external stressors. Through this combination of a long-lived lifecycle and protective geophytic growth, the species maintains a stable presence in its natural habitat.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Crinum zeylanicum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and a forb, functioning as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. It is a terrestrial plant, lacking aquatic or epiphytic habits, and does not exhibit climbing behavior, as it is entirely self-supporting. The structure is defined by its non-woody nature, typical of its classification as a perennial herb.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Crinum zeylanicum has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins, Steroids, Terpenoids.

Saponins

1. Pharmacological research

Steroids

1. Pharmacological research

Terpenoids

1. Pharmacological research

Conditions

Crinum zeylanicum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include fascioliasis.

Fascioliasis

1. Pharmacological research

Preparations

Crinum zeylanicum has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous and ethanolic extracts, methanol extracts.

Aqueous and ethanolic extracts

1. Pharmacological research

Methanol extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine