Crinum macowanii
| Crinum macowanii | |
|---|---|
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| Crinum macowanii growing in South Africa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Amaryllidoideae |
| Genus: | Crinum |
| Species: | C. macowanii |
| Binomial name | |
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Crinum macowanii Baker |
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Crinum macowanii (see below for additional nomenclature) is a deciduous bulbous plant species native to Africa. Along with other members of the Amaryllidaceae family, it has been used in traditional medicine throughout southern Africa.
The species name macowanii refers to the celebrated British botanist Peter MacOwan.
It is known by a wide variety of names among the various peoples of Africa, an indication of its popularity as a medicinal herb:
In English, Crinum macowanii is referred to as Cape coast lily, river crinum and sabie crinum in South Africa, and as the common vlei-lily in Mozambique. In Tanzania it is known as the pyjama lily.
Crinum macowanii is a deciduous bulbous plant with long, slender, bell-shaped, highly scented flowers which are white except for dark pink stripes.
The bulbs of this species vary greatly in size, being anywhere from 6 to 25 centimetres in diameter.
Crinum macowanii is one of the most widely distributed of the Crinum species in Africa, being native to most of east, central, and southern Africa. The plant occurs naturally in moist grassland, vlei, deciduous woodland, in hard, dry shale, sandy flats, or brackish to reddish clay soils, as well as along rivers and on the coast from 1000 to 2600 m above sea level.
Its continued existence is threatened by the unsustainable harvesting of the plant for its reputed medicinal properties.
Throughout much of Africa, the bulbs of Crinum macowanii are used for the treatment of a large number of conditions, with the roots and leaves having some, though far fewer, traditional uses.
Infusions of the bulb of the plant are used in Zimbabwe for the relief of back pain, as an emetic, and to increase lactation in both humans and animals.
The Zulu and Xhosa people make use of the plant for the treatment of bodily swelling, disorders of the urinary tract, and itchy rashes.
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Wikipedia