Common Name: Asian Poison Bulb

General Information

Crinum asiaticum is an evergreen, perennial plant producing a rosette of fleshy leaves growing 100 - 180cm tall from an underground bulb that can be 5 - 15cm in diameter[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. It is commonly cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical areas, being valued especially for its showy flowers[, ].
Widely grown as an ornamental, the plant has escaped from cultivation and is said to be invasive in some areas[].

Known Hazards

The bulb is said to be poisonous[, ]. The sap can cause skin irritation[].

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - Indian Ocean throughout most of tropical Asia to Australia, Samoa and Vanuatu.

Habitat

Seashores, sandy places near river banks in southern China[]. Introduced and locally naturalised in wet places in Florida and Louisiana[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bulb
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Crinum asiaticum is a plant of mainly subtropical and tropical regions of Asia and Australasia, growing mainly near the coast. Plants are not very cold hardy, tolerating occasional lows down to about -5°c[]. In regions at the limits of their cold hardiness, they are best given the protection of a south or southwest facing wall. Plant the bulbs shallowly, with the neck of the bulb at soil level, and give a protective mulch of bracken or compost in the winter[].
Prefers a deep, well-drained but moisture-retentive fertile soil that is rich in organic matter[]. Succeeds in full sun or partial shade[]. The bulbs must have sufficient moisture during the growing season[]. Plants grow well near the sea[].
A robust and very variable species[]. It can flower and fruit all year round in some areas[, ].
Bulbs are sensitive to transplanting and can take several years to become established. After this, they will usually reproduce rapidly from offsets to produce the overcrowded conditions that stimulate them to flower freely[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bulb contains alkaloids, notably lycorine and crinamine[]. The plant contains cytotoxic alkaloids that have antitumor properties and are antibacterial[].

The juice of the fresh bulb is used as an emetic[, ]. A preparation of the root is given to aid childbirth and for postpartum haemorrhage[, ]. The bulb is chewed as an antidote for wounds of poisoned arrows and poisonous reptiles, and also as a remedy for sickness caused by eating poisonous fish[].
A poultice made from the heated, pounded, fresh bulb is used to relieve osteodynia and rheumatism[]. The juice of the fresh bulb is instilled in the ear to treat otitis[].

A poultice of the heated, pounded, fresh leaves is used to treat contusions, sprains, fractures, luxations etc[, ]. A decoction of the dried leaves is used as a wash in the treatment of haemorrhoids[]. The juice from the squeezed leaves is applied to cuts and wounds[].

The hairlike threads from the stem are used to poultice cuts[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, placing 2 - 3 seeds in individual pots in a greenhouse. Do not cover the seed. Sow stored seed mid spring in a warm greenhouse. Once they have germinated, you can thin each pot to just one plant if required, though we have not found this to be necessary. Give an occasional liquid feed to ensure that the plants do not suffer nutritional deficiencies. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first 2 years, planting them out into their permanent positions in the spring.
Division of offsets in mid spring or in September. When divided in the spring, the bulbs can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, if done in September, however, they should be potted up and overwintered in the greenhouse.