Tamil Nadu – Glory Lily
Common Name: Flame Lily, Fire Lily, Tiger Claw
Local Name: Chengaandhal/Karthigaipoo (Tamil), Karihari (Hindi)
Scientific Name: Gloriosa superba
Description: This tendril climber has a fleshy rhizome that grows up to 8 meters long. The leaves are lance-shaped, bright green, and have tendrils at the tips. They are placed alternately. Flowers with bases that are yellowish and ranging in color from bright red to orange. Each stamen has six tepals and a big anther at the top. It is widely found in gardens for their decorative blossoms as well as semi-evergreen, wet, dry deciduous, and evergreen forests in India.
Uses: The deadly alkaloid gloriocine and colchicine are present in high concentrations in the poisonous tuberous rhizomes. Leprosy, snakebites, ulcers, parasitic skin illnesses, and inflammations can all be effectively treated with medications made from the powdery material that is removed from the tubers.