Lens Lugger Jim Bowman captures this image of a Glory Lily in Palm Harbor, FL. Using the dark background really pops this image.
Like so many colorful species in nature; however, it can be poisonous.
Gloriosa is a genus of 12 species in the plant family Colchicaceae, and include the formerly recognised genus Littonia. They are native in tropical and southern Africa to Asia, and naturalised in Australia and the Pacific as well as being widely cultivated.[2] The most common English names are flame lily, fire lily, gloriosa lily, glory lily, superb lily, climbing lily, and creeping lily.
They are tender, tuberous rooted deciduous perennials, adapted to summer rainfall with a dormant dry season. All parts of the plant contain colchicine and related alkaloids and are therefore dangerously toxic if ingested, and contact with the stems and leaves can cause skin irritation. Various preparations of the plant are used in traditional medicines for a variety of complaints in both Africa and India. It is state flower (Kaanthal) of Tamil Nadu. In Indian language of Telugu, in the state of Andhra Pradesh it is called Naabhi and was used in traditional medicine.
In Australia, “scattered naturalized populations exist in the understorey of coastal dry sclerophyll forest and sand dune vegetation throughout south-east Queensland and New South Wales”.[5] It is considered a rampant and dangerous invasive weed in Australia, dominating the coastal dunes at the expense of native species and leading to deaths of native animals and birds when ingested.
** from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Note: This showy plant is known to be poisonous to Cats & Dogs. Here is the Pet Poison Helpline should you need more information – http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/glory-lily-2/
