Caribbean Spiderlily

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Caribbean Spiderlily
• Spider
• Spider Lily
• White Lily
• belladonna-lily
• spider-lily
• white-lily
• Caribbean spider-lily
• variegated spider-lily

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hymenocallis patens
• Hymenocallis caribaea var. declinata
• Pancratium obtusatum
• Pancratium caribaeum
• Pancratium angustum
• Troxistemon fragrans
• Hymenocallis angusta
• Pancratium grandiflorum
• Hymenocallis caribaea f. angustifolia
• Hymenocallis caribaea var. cinerascens
• Hymenocallis caribaea var. patens
• Hymenocallis cinerascens
• Hymenocallis declinata
• Hymenocallis sloanei
• Hymenocallis sessilis
• Hymenocallis speciosa var. fragrans
• Hymenocallis obtusata
• Hymenocallis obtusata
• Hymenocallis formosa
• Nemepiodon caribeus
• Pancratium excisum
• Pancratium declinatum
• Pancratium recurvum
• Hymenocallis amoena var. lorata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asparagales, falling under the family Amaryllidaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Hymenocallis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread and diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in Sri Lanka. Its presence extends to the Australian continent, specifically within the state of New South Wales. The plant is also widely distributed throughout the Caribbean, where it inhabits Bermuda, Cuba, and Jamaica. Consequently, this species thrives in both tropical and temperate environments across multiple continents.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Hymenocallis caribaea is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a species that relies on underground storage organs to survive unfavorable environmental conditions, its life form is defined as a geophyte, which is a specific type of cryptophyte where the perennating buds are located below the soil surface. This specialized growth strategy enables the plant to maintain long-term stability and recover effectively after seasonal shifts, utilizing its protected subterranean structures to support its continuous lifecycle.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hymenocallis caribaea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and is classified as a terrestrial plant rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic species. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing behaviors such as lianas or vines, nor does it function as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological structure of the foliage in Hymenocallis caribaea is characterized by significant morphological variability in its vegetative dimensions, which play a crucial role in its photosynthetic capacity and resource acquisition. The leaves exhibit a substantial range in longitudinal growth, with lengths measuring as little as 30 cm at the minimum, extending up to a maximum of 80 cm. This expansive surface area is complemented by a lateral breadth that fluctuates between a minimum width of 4.5 cm and a maximum width of 8 cm. Such variations in leaf length and width suggest a dynamic physiological adaptation to light interception and transpiration control within its natural habitat, allowing the plant to optimize its metabolic processes through its diverse leaf architecture.

Leaf length max:

80 cm

Leaf length min:

30 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

4.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hymenocallis caribaea is characterized by a specific flowering period that typically commences in January and concludes in March, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. The reproductive cycle culminates in the development of a capsule as the fruit type. This fruit is categorized as being dehiscence, meaning it is dehiscence-driven to release its seeds upon maturity.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Mar

Fruit type :

capsule

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Hymenocallis caribaea has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 7-Deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine.

7-Deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Hymenocallis caribaea has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural products