BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION SYSTEM
Plants of Western Ghats

Gloriosa superba


Nomenclature Illustration Ecology Morphology Utility Conservation

NOMENCLATURE

 Common Name - GLORY LILLY Valid Name - Gloriosa superba L. Synonyms - Vernacular - Eng. - Glory Lily Kan. - Karadi, Kanninagadde Mal. - Mettoni, Kithonni Mar. - Kal - lavi Tam. - Kalappai - Kizhangu, Kannoru

ILLUSTRATIONS

MORPHOLOGY

 
     Climbing to 4-6m. Leaves oblong to ovate-lanceolate, 5-10  x 
1-5cm.  Pedicels  6-8 cm, reflexed at the tip.  Stigma  introrse. 
Capsule green, smooth, oblong.

Herbarium - CJS 11424; HFP 613

ECOLOGY

 
Habitat       -  Dry deciduous forest, Scrub, Thickets

Distribution  -  Global - Palotropics
                 India - Throughout forested tracts
                 Western Ghats - Allover hilly areas
                 Districts - Nasik, Ratnagiri, Savanthwadi (Mah.); 
                             Uttara Kannada, Hassan, Chikmangalur, 
                             Coorg, Mysore (Karn.); 
                             Cannanore,   Palakkad,    Trivandrum 
                             (Kerala);
                             Tamil Nadu, Goa       
   
Abundance    -   Occassional

UTILITY

 
Uses       -  Medicinal 
  
Principles -  Colchicine

CONSERVATION

 
Threat Status     -  Endangered

Forces            -  Pharmaceuticals overharvest

Protective Areas  -  All over

Measures          -  Attempts of cultivation begun successfully


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