Scadoxus multiflorus

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox |name =Blood lily |taxon=Scadoxus multiflorus |image=Scadoxus Multiforus 13062015.JPG |image_caption=Inflorescence of a blood lily in India |authority=(Martyn) Raf.<ref name=WCSP_287367/> |synonyms = {{Collapsible list | {{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; | *''Amaryllis multiflora'' (Martyn) Tratt. *''Haemanthus abyssinicus'' Herb. *''Haemanthus andrei'' De Wild. *''Haemanthus arabicus'' M.Roem. *''Haemanthus arnoldianus'' De Wild. & T.Durand *''Haemanthus bequaertii'' De Wild. *''Haemanthus bivalvis'' Beck *''Haemanthus cecilae'' Baker *''Haemanthus colchicifolius'' Salisb. *''Haemanthus cruentatus'' Schumach. & Thonn. *''Haemanthus delagoensis'' Herb. *''Haemanthus eurysiphon'' Harms *''Haemanthus filiflorus'' Baker ex Hiern *''Haemanthus kalbreyeri'' Baker *''Haemanthus katharinae'' Baker *''Haemanthus longitubus'' C.H.Wright *''Haemanthus lynesii'' Stapf *''Haemanthus mannii'' Baker *''Haemanthus micrantherus'' Pax *''Haemanthus mildbraedii'' Perkins *''Haemanthus multiflorus'' Martyn *''Haemanthus nicholsonii'' Baker *''Haemanthus otaviensis'' Dinter *''Haemanthus rupestris'' Baker *''Haemanthus sacculus'' E.Phillips *''Haemanthus sacculus'' Phillips *''Haemanthus seretii'' De Wild. *''Haemanthus somaliensis'' Baker *''Haemanthus tenuiflorus'' Herb. nom. illeg. *''Haemanthus zambesiacus'' Baker *''Nerissa multiflorus'' (Martyn) Salisb. nom. inval. }} }} |synonyms_ref=<ref name=WCSP_Sm/><ref name=TPL/> }}

'''''Scadoxus multiflorus''''' (formerly ''Haemanthus multiflorus'') is a species of bulbous plant native to most of sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Somalia to South Africa. It is also native to Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman) and to the Seychelles. It is naturalized in Mexico and in the Chagos Archipelago.<ref name=WCSP_287367/> It is grown as an ornamental plant for its brilliantly coloured flowers, either in containers or in the ground in where the climate is suitable. There are three recognized subspecies. Strongly toxic like other ''Scadoxus'' species, it has been used as a component of arrow poisons and fishing poisons, as well as in traditional medicine. Common names, some of which are used for other species, include '''blood lily''', '''ball lily''', '''fireball lily''', '''blood flower''', '''Katherine-wheel''', '''oxtongue lily''', '''poison root''' and '''powderpuff lily'''.<ref>{{GRIN | accessdate=2014-04-23}}</ref>

==Description== [[File:Vegetation around Victoria falls.jpg|thumb|''Scadoxus multiflorus'' subsp. ''multiflorus'' near Victoria Falls]] thumb| thumb|Tender seeds ''Scadoxus multiflorus'' grows from a "rhizomatous bulb", i.e. a bulb which also produces rhizomes (modified underground stems). The leaves and flower may appear together or the leaves may be produced later. The bases of the leaves, the stalks or petioles, are tightly wrapped together to form a pseudostem or false stem, {{convert|5|–|60|cm|abbr=on|0}} long. The flowers are produced in an umbel at the top of a leafless stem (scape), {{convert|12|–|75|cm|abbr=on|0}} long. Both the pseudostem and the scape are often covered with reddish brown to dark violet spots. The bracts under the umbel soon wither.<ref name=eMon_Sm/>

The umbel of flowers is more-or-less globe shaped, with from 10 to 200 individual flowers. Each flower has a stalk (pedicel) typically {{convert|15|–|45|mm|abbr=on|1}} long. The tepals, filaments of the stamens and the style are all scarlet, fading to pink. The bases of the tepals are fused to form a cylinder-shaped tube, {{convert|4|–|26|mm|abbr=on|1}} long; the free ends of the tepals are {{convert|12|–|32|mm|abbr=on|1}} long, narrow and spreading. The fruit is a berry, {{convert|5|–|10|mm|abbr=on|1}} across.<ref name=eMon_Sm/>

Differences between the three accepted subspecies have been summarized by Friis and Nordal, and are shown in the table below.<ref name=FriiNord76/>

{| class="wikitable" border="1" |+ Difference between subspecies ! !! ''S. m.'' subsp. ''multiflorus'' !! ''S. m.'' subsp. ''katherinae'' !! ''S. m.'' subsp. ''longitubus'' |- | Length of flower tube ||align=center| 4–15 mm ||align=center| 12–22 mm ||align=center| 15–26 mm |- | Length of free segments of the flower ||align=center| 12–32 mm ||align=center| 18–30 mm ||align=center| 15–28 mm |- | Width of free segments of the flower ||align=center| 0.5–2.5 mm ||align=center| 2.2–4 mm ||align=center| 1.4–3.4 mm |- | Height ||align=center| Variable ||align=center| Up to 120 cm ||align=center| Up to 65 cm |- | Distribution || Southern to tropical Africa; Arabia || Swaziland; eastern coastal South Africa || Lowland forest in tropical west Africa |}

It can be seen that although the dimensions mostly overlap, the length of the flower tube relative to the free segments at the end of the flower distinguishes ''S. m.'' subsp. ''longitubus'', in which they are more-or-less the same length, from ''S. m.'' subsp. ''multiflorus'', in which the tube is generally shorter than the free segments. ''S. m.'' subsp. ''katherinae'' is intermediate. ''S. m.'' subsp. ''multiflorus'' tends to have narrower free segments than the other two subspecies. ''S. m.'' subsp. ''katherinae'' is tall, ''S. m.'' subsp. ''longitubus'' short, with ''S. m.'' subsp. ''multiflorus'' generally intermediate, although varying in height throughout its considerable range.

==Taxonomy==

''Scadoxus multiflorus'' was originally described by English botanist Thomas Martyn in 1795 as ''Haemanthus multiflorus''. Constantine Samuel Rafinesque moved ''Haemanthus multiflorus'' to his new genus ''Scadoxus'' in 1838, giving it its current binomial name ''Scadoxus multiflorus''.<ref name=WCSP_287367/><ref name=Rafi38/> The separation of ''Scadoxus'' from ''Haemanthus'' was ignored by most workers until 1976, when the two genera were again segregated by Ib Friis and Inger Nordal. ''Haemanthus'' species are southern in distribution, form true bulbs and have 2''n'' = 16 chromosomes, whereas ''Scadoxus'' species, such as ''S. multiflorus'', are found throughout tropical Africa, do not all form bulbs and have 2''n'' = 18 chromosomes.<ref name=MeerClay04/> The leaves are a further distinguishing characteristic: those of ''Scadoxus'' are thinner and have a distinct stalk (petiole); those of ''Haemanthus'' are thicker and without a petiole.<ref name=MeerClay04/> [[File:Scadoxus multiflorus (1).JPG|thumb|''Scadoxus multiflorus'' subsp. ''multiflorus'' in Arusha National Park, Tanzania]]

===Subspecies=== Three subspecies are known:<ref name=WCSP_Sm/> *''S. multiflorus'' ssp. ''katharinae'' (Baker) Friis & Nordal – Swaziland and eastern South Africa ::Synonyms: ''Haemanthus katharinae'' Baker, ''Haemanthus multiflorus'' subsp. ''katharinae'' (Baker) I.Bjørnstad & Friis *''S. multiflorus'' ssp. ''longitubus'' (C.H.Wright) Friis & Nordal – west Africa ::Synonyms: ''Haemanthus longitubus'' C.H.Wright, ''Haemanthus multiflorus'' subsp. ''longitubus'' (C.H.Wright) I.Bjørnstad & Friis, ''Haemanthus mannii'' Baker *''S. multiflorus'' ssp. ''multiflorus'' – tropical and southern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula

==Distribution and habitat== The species is native to tropical and southern Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Das |first1=Ria |last2=Goswami |first2=Souren |last3=Barman |first3=Anuva |last4=Barman |first4=Manabendu |last5=Ray |first5=Sanjib |date=2021 |title=Antimitotic and Cytotoxic Effects of Leaf Aqueous Extract of Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf. in Allium cepa Root Apical Meristem Cells |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/cytologia/86/3/86_D-21-00029/_article |journal=Cytologia |volume=86 |issue=3 |pages=267–271 |doi=10.1508/cytologia.86.267|doi-access=free }}</ref> The subspecies ''S. m.'' subsp. ''multiflorus'' is found throughout southern Africa. ''S. m.'' subsp. ''longitubus'' is found across tropical West and Central Africa, including in Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. ''S. m.'' subsp. ''katherinae'' is native to Mediterranean climate forest, scrub and woodland in eastern southern Africa – Cape Province and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and Swaziland. It is primarily a plant of moist, shady habitats, including savannah woodlands and forests along rivers and mountains.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kwembeya |first=Ezekeil G. |date=2021-04-01 |title=Tracking biological footprints of climate change using flowering phenology of the geophytes: Pancratium tenuifolium and Scadoxus multiflorus |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-020-02052-2 |journal=International Journal of Biometeorology |language=en |volume=65 |issue=4 |pages=577–586 |doi=10.1007/s00484-020-02052-2 |pmid=33409646 |bibcode=2021IJBm...65..577K |issn=1432-1254|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Cultivation==

''Scadoxus multiflorus'' is chill-sensitive and must be kept at a minimum temperature of {{convert|5|°C|abbr=on|0}}, for forms of southern African origin, up to {{convert|10|°C|abbr=on|0}} or more for those of tropical origin. An open, well-drained growing medium, largely organic in nature, is recommended.<ref name=Hutc07/> Propagation is by seed. Pests are those of ''Scadoxus'' generally.<ref name=Hutc07/><ref name=pa_Sp/>

''Scadoxus multiflorus'' subsp. ''longitubus'' is rarely if ever cultivated,<ref name=Hutc07/> although (under the synonym ''Haemanthus mannii'') it was described as having been "introduced" in 1877.<ref name=Bake88_Hm/> ''Scadoxus multiflorus'' subsp. ''multiflorus'' is produced for sale in large numbers by the Dutch horticultural industry. In cultivated forms, the flowers often appear before the leaves, sometimes not until late summer.<ref name=Hutc07/>

''Scadoxus multiflorus'' subsp. ''katherinae'' has been described as "imposing",<ref name=Hutc07/> sometimes reaching a height of {{convert|120|cm|ft|abbr=on|0}}, with a strong purple-spotted pseudostem. Red berries may be produced, which can last through the winter. The UK National Plant Collection for ''Scadoxus'' has described it as "an excellent plant for a glasshouse or sunny windowsill."<ref name=Hutc07/> In South Africa it can be grown in the open garden in the shade, in well-drained, light soil containing plenty of organic matter. It requires ample water when in growth but must have good drainage when dormant. It will grow under trees provided the soil is sufficiently fertile.<ref name=pa_Sp/>

===Cultivars=== Some artificial hybrids between ''S. multiflorus'' subsp. ''katherinae'' and ''S. puniceus'' are known. Johannes Nicolai raised ''S.'' 'König Albert' which flowered for the first time in 1899. Although rare in cultivation, it multiplies rapidly. Of the same parentage is ''S.'' 'Andromeda', raised by C. G. van Tubergen around 1904.<ref name=Hutc07/>

''Scadoxus multiflorus'' subsp. ''katherinae'' has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/105286/Scadoxus-multiflorus-subsp-katherinae/Details | title = ''Scadoxus multiflorus'' subsp. ''katherinae'' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 5 March 2021}}</ref>

==Toxicity and uses==

The genus ''Scadoxus'' has some strongly toxic species, containing poisonous alkaloids lethal to animals, such as sheep and goats, that graze on the leaves or bulbs. ''Scadoxus multiflorus'' is traditionally used in parts of tropical Africa as a component of arrow poisons and fishing poisons. It is also used in traditional medicine, although in South Africa less so than ''Scadoxus puniceus''.<ref name=pa_Sp/>

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=Bake88_Hm>{{Citation |last1=Baker |first1=J.G. |year=1888 |contribution=3. ''H. mannii'' Baker |title=Handbook of the Amaryllideae, including the Alstroemerieae and the Agaveae |publisher=George Bell & Sons |publication-place=London |pages=63–64 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15352505 |accessdate=2014-04-08 }}</ref>

<ref name=eMon_Sm>{{Citation |title=''Scadoxus multiflorus'' (Martyn) Raf. |work=eMonocot |url=http://e-monocot.org/taxon/urn:kew.org:wcs:taxon:287367 |accessdate=2014-04-04 }}</ref>

<ref name=FriiNord76>{{Citation |last1=Friis |first1=I. |last2=Nordal |first2=I. |year=1976 |title=Studies on the genus ''Haemanthus'' (Amaryllidaceae) IV. Division of the genus into ''Haemanthus'' s. str. and ''Scadoxus'' with notes on ''Haemanthus'' s. str. |journal=Norwegian Journal of Botany |volume=23 |pages=63–77 }}</ref>

<ref name=Hutc07>{{Citation |last=Hutchinson |first=J. |year=2007 |title=''Scadoxus'' of South Africa |journal=The Plantsman |series=New Series |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=10–14 }}</ref>

<ref name=MeerClay04>{{Citation |last1=Meerow |first1=Alan W. |last2=Clayton |first2=Jason R. |year=2004 |title=Generic relationships among the baccate-fruited Amaryllidaceae (tribe Haemantheae) inferred from plastid and nuclear non-coding DNA sequences |journal=Plant Systematics and Evolution |volume=244 |issue=3–4 |pages=141–155 |doi=10.1007/s00606-003-0085-z |bibcode=2004PSyEv.244..141M |s2cid=10245220 |name-list-style=amp |url=https://naldc-legacy.nal.usda.gov/naldc/download.xhtml?id=2422&content=PDF |url-access=subscription }}{{dead link|date=June 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

<ref name=pa_Sp>{{Citation |title=''Scadoxus multiflorus'' (Martyn) Raf. subsp. ''katharinae'' (Bak.) Friis & Nordal|publisher=South African National Biodiversity Institute |url=http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/scadoxkath.htm |accessdate=2014-03-25 }}</ref>

<ref name=Rafi38>{{Citation |last=Rafinesque-Smaltz |first=C.S. |year=1838 |title=Flora Telluriana |publication-place=Philadelphia |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7430162 |accessdate=2014-03-25 |at=[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7430513 part 4, p. 19]}}</ref>

<ref name=TPL>{{Citation |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Scadoxus+multiflorus |title=''Scadoxus multiflorus'' |work=The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species |accessdate=2014-04-23 }}</ref>

<ref name=WCSP_Sm>{{Citation |contribution=Search for ''Scadoxus multiflorus''|title=World Checklist of Selected Plant Families |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |contribution-url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/qsearch.do?plantName=Scadoxus+multiflorus |accessdate=2014-03-26 }}</ref>

<ref name=WCSP_287367>{{Citation |contribution=Scadoxus multiflorus|title=World Checklist of Selected Plant Families |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |contribution-url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=287367 |accessdate=2014-03-26}}</ref> }}

==External links== {{AfricanPlants|Scadoxus multiflorus|CS2}}

Category:Amaryllidoideae Category:Flora of Africa Category:Flora of Saudi Arabia Category:Flora of Mexico Category:Flora of Oman Category:Flora of Yemen Category:Flora of Seychelles Category:Flora of the Chagos Archipelago Category:Plants described in 1795