A Poisonous Flowering Plant – Gloriosa Superba
Gloriosa Superba (Photo Credit: Brian Gratwicke / CC BY 2.0)
Gloriosa superba is a species of flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae. The common names are flame lily, climbing lily, creeping lily, glory lily, gloriosa lily, tiger claw and fire lily. These are found mostly Africa and Asia.
Gloriosa Superba Plant (Photo Credit: Raffi Kojian / CC BY-SA 3.0)
It is known worldwide as an ornamental plant, a medicine, a poison and a noxious weed. They are up 13 to 20 centimeters long. This plant is poisonous, toxic enough to cause human and animal fatalities if ingested.
Yellow Gloriosa Superba Plant (Photo Credit: Ton Rulkens / CC BY-SA 2.0)
It has been used to commit murder, to achieve suicide and to kill animals. Every part of the plant is poisonous. This species is the national flower of Zimbabwe. It is in great demand for medicinal use, so it is cultivated on farms in India.
Gloriosa Superba (Photo Credit: Jobin / CC BY-SA 3.0)
