Hymenocallis
Hymenocallis, commonly known as the Paperwhite Lily, is a striking perennial celebrated for its fragrant, trumpet-shaped blooms. While primarily ornamental, various species possess traditional medicinal properties in folk healing. Often used for their soothing qualities, these elegant plants bridge the gap between botanical beauty and natural therapeutic potential.
- Scientific name: Hymenocallis
- Family: Amaryllidaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Asparagales and the family Amaryllidaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Hymenocallis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asparagales | WCVP |
| Family | Amaryllidaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Hymenocallis | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, belonging to the genus Hymenocallis, is known by various regional names depending on the language and location. In Chinese, it is referred to as 水鬼蕉属 (zh-hans), 水鬼蕉屬 (zh-hant), and 水鬼蕉屬 (zh-hk). In Russian, the name used is Гименокаллис, while in Thailand, it is commonly known as พลับพลึงตีนเป็ด.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 水鬼蕉属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 水鬼蕉屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 水鬼蕉屬 | Wikidata |
| ru | Гименокаллис | Wikidata |
| th | พลับพลึงตีนเป็ด | Wikidata |
| to | Lile kalukalu | Wikidata |
| de | Schönhäutchen | Wikidata |
| sv | Spindelliljesläktet | Wikidata |
| zh | 水鬼蕉属 | Wikidata |
| uk | Гіменокаліс | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In Northern Africa, its presence can be documented specifically within Tunisia. Moving toward the Atlantic islands, it is found within the Macaronesian region of Cape Verde. The species also extends into West Tropical Africa, where it inhabits Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its range continues through the West Tropical African territory of Guinea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Tunisia | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Equatorial Guinea | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Angola | WCVP |
Chemicals
Hymenocallis has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine, 7-deoxynarciclasine, narciclasine.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 7-deoxynarciclasine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| narciclasine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |