Stinking Daffodil

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Stinking Daffodil

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pancratium foetidum var. tunetanum
• Pancratium foetidum var. oranense
• Pancratium foetidum var. saldense
• Pancratium foetidum var. brachysiphon
• Pancratium foetidum var. rifanum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Asparagales and the family Amaryllidaceae. Within this group, it is identified by the genus Pancratium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Pancratium foetidum, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the North African region. It can be found growing within the coastal areas of Morocco in the west. Moving eastward, its presence extends into the territories of Algeria and Tunisia. The species' range continues further along the Mediterranean coastline into Libya. Consequently, these four countries represent the primary locations where this medicinal plant is naturally distributed.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Pancratium foetidum is characterized by its specialized survival strategies within Mediterranean-type ecosystems, where it functions primarily as a cryptophyte. Specifically, the plant adopts a geophyte life form, ensuring its persistence through unfavorable seasonal conditions by storing nutrients and moisture in large, fleshy underground bulbs. This evolutionary adaptation allows the organism to remain dormant during periods of drought or extreme temperature fluctuations, emerging only when environmental conditions are conducive to vegetative growth and reproduction. By protecting its vital organs beneath the soil surface, it avoids the stressors of surface-level environmental shifts, utilizing its subterranean structure to facilitate rapid regrowth and the eventual production of its characteristic white, fragrant flowers.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Pancratium foetidum is characterized by a robust, perennial growth habit that is fundamentally terrestrial in its ecological positioning. Unlike climbing species, it does not function as a climber, lacking the liana, vine, or self-supporting climbing mechanisms found in other taxa; specifically, it is not an obligatory or facultative climber, nor does it exhibit a self-supporting climbing structure. The plant is entirely independent in its nutritional requirements, functioning as an independent organism rather than an obligatory or facultative parasite. Furthermore, its growth habit is strictly terrestrial, as it does not possess the characteristics of an obligatory or facultative epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pancratium foetidum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include lycorine.

lycorine

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Activities

Pancratium foetidum has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antitumor, Antiviral.

Antimalarial

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Antitumor

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Antiviral

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Medicinal Uses

Pancratium foetidum has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antimalarial, antiviral.

Most Reported Uses