Scadoxus mutiflorus

(Martyn) Raf.

Fireball lily, Powder-puff lily

Amaryllidaceae Edible: Leaves, Caution Potential hazards — see below

No photos yet for Scadoxus mutiflorus

Description

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 70 m tall. The bulbs are a flattened round shape. They are white with red stains. The false stem is fleshy and sturdy. It is 2.5 cm across. It is white with purple spots. The leaves are strap shaped and they have wavy edges. They are arranged in spirals. The flowers are in a round group 15 cm across. They are on stalk 60 cm long that comes from the base. The flowers are pink to red. The fruit are very small berries. The seeds are soft.

Edible Uses

The leaves can be eaten, though caution should be exercised.

Known Hazards

Caution advised when consuming leaves.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland, savannah woodland and coastal sands. It grows up to 2,200 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Congo R, East Africa, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, SE Asia, Singapore, South Africa*, West Africa, Zambia,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds, offsets or bulbs.

Synonyms

Amaryllis multiflora (Martyn) Tratt.Haemanthus multiflorus MartynNerissa multiflorus (Martyn) Salisb. [Invalid]

Also Known As

Bunga desember, Lili bola api

References (6)

Chapman, J. D. & Chapman, H. M., 2001, The Forest Flora of Taraba and Andamawa States, Nigeria. WWF & University of Canterbury. p 208
Grivetti, L. E., 1980, Agricultural development: present and potential role of edible wild plants. Part 2: Sub-Saharan Africa, Report to the Department of State Agency for International Development. p 70 (As Haemanthus multiflorus)
Mutie, F. M., et al, 2023, Important Medicinal and Food Taxa (Orders and Families) in Kenya, Based on Three Quantitative Approaches. Plants 2023, 12, 1145
Nkeoua, G. & Boundzanga, G. C., 1999, Donnees sur les produits forestieres non ligneux en Republique du Congo. FAO. p 28 (As Haemanthus multiflorus)
Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 1134

Show all 6 references