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Useful Temperate Plants

Zantedeschia aethiopica

(L.) Spreng.

Araceae

+ Synonyms

Arodes aethiopicum (L.) Kuntze

Calla aethiopica L.

Calla ambigua Salisb.

Calla moschata Moench

Colocasia aethiopica (L.) Link

Pseudohomalomena pastoensis A.D.Hawkes

Richardia aethiopica (L.) Spreng.

Richardia africana Kunth

Common Name: Arum Lily

No Image.

General Information

Zantedeschia aethiopica is a perennial plant growing from a subterranean, much-branched, fleshy rhizome. It produces a cluster of leaves up to 120cm tall (including their petioles) growing from the rhizome with flowering stems up to 250cm tall. The plant is evergreen in areas with warm summers and sufficient rainfall, but become deciduous if the winters are cold or there is a long dry season[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]..
The plant is occasionally harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.This is one of the most commonly cultivated plants in the world, valued especially for its beautiful flowers. It is often cultivated to provide cut flowers[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Zantedeschia aethiopica is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

73
Title
Flora of the Cape Peninsula.
Publication
 
Author
Adamson. and Salter.
Publisher
 
Year
 
ISBN
 
Description
A good flora but rather short on details of habitat. Not for the casual reader.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

Southern Africa - southern and eastern S. Africa.

Habitat

Wet marshy places[
73
Title
Flora of the Cape Peninsula.
Publication
 
Author
Adamson. and Salter.
Publisher
 
Year
 
ISBN
 
Description
A good flora but rather short on details of habitat. Not for the casual reader.
,
90
Title
Bulbs
Publication
 
Author
Phillips. R. and Rix. M.
Publisher
Pan Books
Year
1989
ISBN
0-330-30253-1
Description
Superbly illustrated, it gives brief details on cultivation and native habitat.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height1.00 m
Growth RateMedium
PollinatorsBees, Insects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Zantedeschia aethiopica is found from coastal regions of S. Africa up to elevations of 2,250 metres, and thus experiences a wide range of conditions including hot and humid coastal regions, often with salt-laden air, and freezing, misty mountain grasslands at high elevations[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]. The plant can tolerate short periods with temperatures falling to around -5 and -10°c[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
], although some selected forms, such as 'Crowborough' and 'Green Spathe', are hardier[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Requires a very rich soil in full sun or shade[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Best when growing in full sun[
90
Title
Bulbs
Publication
 
Author
Phillips. R. and Rix. M.
Publisher
Pan Books
Year
1989
ISBN
0-330-30253-1
Description
Superbly illustrated, it gives brief details on cultivation and native habitat.
]. Succeeds in wet soils or water up to 30cm deep[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Plants are more tolerant of winter cold if they are are planted deeply in shallow water to a depth of about 30cm[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
90
Title
Bulbs
Publication
 
Author
Phillips. R. and Rix. M.
Publisher
Pan Books
Year
1989
ISBN
0-330-30253-1
Description
Superbly illustrated, it gives brief details on cultivation and native habitat.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. It is best to cover plants with bracken in the winter in order to protect against exceptional frosts[
90
Title
Bulbs
Publication
 
Author
Phillips. R. and Rix. M.
Publisher
Pan Books
Year
1989
ISBN
0-330-30253-1
Description
Superbly illustrated, it gives brief details on cultivation and native habitat.
].
The leaves of the arum are very interesting in that they contain water stomata which can discharge excess water, by a process known as "guttation". This prevents water-logging and enables arum lilies to grow in wet conditions[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
An excellent cutflower, it lasts a long time in water[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[
233
Title
Perennial Garden Plants
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
J. M. Dent & Sons, London.
Year
1990
ISBN
0 460 86048 8
Description
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
]

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked[
105
Title
Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
Publisher
Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
Year
1976
ISBN
-
Description
The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. Eaten in small quantities, and only after cooking[
1321
Title
Swaziland's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Publication
 
Author
Chris Long
Website
http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/chrislong.asp
Publisher
 
Year
2005
ISBN
 
Description
A basic, but very long, list of names and uses.
]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal

The leaves are applied topically as a treatment for wounds, sores and boils[
1321
Title
Swaziland's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Publication
 
Author
Chris Long
Website
http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/chrislong.asp
Publisher
 
Year
2005
ISBN
 
Description
A basic, but very long, list of names and uses.
].

The washed leaves are heated and used as a dressing for wounds, boils, minor burns, insect bites, and sores. People suffering from gout or rheumatism also use the warmed leaves as a poultice to reduce the pain[
1940
Title
Underexplored Medicinal Plants from Sub-Saharan Africa
Publication
 
Author
Lall N. (Editor)
Publisher
Academic Press; London
Year
2020
ISBN
978-0-12-816814-1
Description
Detailed information on 46 lesser known medicinal plants from Africa
]

Traditional communities located in the Cape powder the dried rhizome and use it as a poultice for inflamed wounds[
1940
Title
Underexplored Medicinal Plants from Sub-Saharan Africa
Publication
 
Author
Lall N. (Editor)
Publisher
Academic Press; London
Year
2020
ISBN
978-0-12-816814-1
Description
Detailed information on 46 lesser known medicinal plants from Africa
].

The plant can be boiled and eaten by mixing it with honey or syrup as a treatment for asthma and bronchitis; it can also be gargled for the relief of sore throats[
1940
Title
Underexplored Medicinal Plants from Sub-Saharan Africa
Publication
 
Author
Lall N. (Editor)
Publisher
Academic Press; London
Year
2020
ISBN
978-0-12-816814-1
Description
Detailed information on 46 lesser known medicinal plants from Africa
].

A methanolic crude extract of the plant has shown some antibacterial, anticoagulant and antifungal activity[
1940
Title
Underexplored Medicinal Plants from Sub-Saharan Africa
Publication
 
Author
Lall N. (Editor)
Publisher
Academic Press; London
Year
2020
ISBN
978-0-12-816814-1
Description
Detailed information on 46 lesser known medicinal plants from Africa
]

Other Uses

The plant is used as a source of dyes[
1321
Title
Swaziland's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Publication
 
Author
Chris Long
Website
http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/chrislong.asp
Publisher
 
Year
2005
ISBN
 
Description
A basic, but very long, list of names and uses.
]. No more information is given

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours in warm water and sow in moist soil in spring in a greenhouse[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division, preferably in the spring[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-10. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Zantedeschia+aethiopica>

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