Gloriosa superba

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Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens only. View county names by placing the mouse cursor over a particular county.

Species Distribution Map
Family:COLCHICACEAE
Species:Gloriosa superba L.
Common Name:Gloriosa Lily
Habitat:**
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Herb
Duration:Perennial
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:**
Plant Notes:Gloriosa Lily is an introduced herbaceous perennial in the Bellwort or Saffron family (Colchicaceae). It is native to much of tropical and southern Africa and temperate and tropical areas of Asia from India to China. It Alabama it is widely planted as an ornamental, and has been collected as a rare escape in the southern third of the state. Gloriosa Lily occurs in disturbed areas such as around old home sites, on vacant lots, and by fence lines. It is a perennial from a fleshy, branching rhizome. Stems are glabrous, erect at first then viny, and up to 6 feet in height. The leaves are alternate, sessile, lanceolate to elliptic in outline, with entire margins. The tip of the leaf is elongated into a tendril which the plant uses to climb surrounding vegetation. The leaves are glabrous, shiny, and have parallel veins. All parts of the plant are toxic if eaten, containing high levels of the toxic alkaloid colchicine. Flowers are solitary on long pedicles. The flowers have 6 large recurved red and yellow tepals with wavy margins. Six large and spreading stamens, and a long style are located in the center of the flower. The fruit is a leathery 3-valved capsule containing around 20 seed, each with a fleshy red seed coat. Gloriosa Lily is grown commercially as a source of colchicine, which has various medicinal and other uses. Plants are widely available in nurseries, garden shops, and through the mail. Gloriosa Lily prefers a well-draining soil rich in organic matter in full to partial sun. In cold climates the rhizomes can be dug in the autumn and stored indoors until spring.—A. Diamond
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Not Native
References:Diamond, A.R. 2020. Noteworthy collections of four non-native vascular plant species new to the flora of Alabama and one species rediscovered after 125 years. Castanea 85(2): 319-326.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilyCOLCHICACEAE - Bellwort or Saffron family
Genus Gloriosa
Species Gloriosa superba L. - Gloriosa Lily

Citation

Citation Gloriosa superba Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 305. 1753.
Basionym: **
Type: INDIA: Without data, Herb. Hermann 3: 31, no. 122 (lectotype: BM). Lectotypified by Wijnands, Bot. Commelins 133. 1983.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

No synonyms exist for this species.

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Conecuh

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, TROY

Range of years during which specimens were collected: -

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.		 Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used		 Image
ALNHS00007221 Conecuh 01 Jun 2021 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#5651		 ALNHS
Gloriosa superba L.
TROY000050165 Conecuh 12 May 2020 Diamond, Alvin R.
29277		 TROY
Gloriosa superba Linnaeus
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