Climbing-lily (Gloriosa superba, Sp. Pl.: 305 (1753))

Family: Colchicaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 305 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Gloriosa

Vegetable: False

Observations: Trop. & S. Africa, W. Indian Ocean, Indian Subcontinent to Lesser Sunda Is.

Description

The Climbing-lily, scientifically known as Gloriosa superba, is a strikingly beautiful and unique flowering plant, celebrated for its extravagant and vivid blooms. Belonging to the family Colchicaceae, this versatile species thrives in a variety of tropical and subtropical climates. Its natural habitat spans across regions including tropical and southern Africa, the western Indian Ocean, and extends to the Indian subcontinent all the way to the Lesser Sunda Islands.

The Climbing-lily is renowned for its dramatic floral display, featuring wavy-edged and reflexed petals that transition through stunning hues of red, orange, and yellow. The flowers are not only eye-catching but also capable of captivating gardeners and botanists alike. Each bloom perches delicately atop slender, climbing stems that can elegantly twine around nearby structures or other plants, exhibiting the plant’s unique ability to both climb and spread.

This plant’s cultural significance is noteworthy, as it holds various uses in traditional medicine systems within its native range. However, it is essential to handle the Climbing-lily with care, because all parts of the plant, particularly the tubers, are highly toxic if ingested. The toxic compounds, while dangerous, have also been isolated for their potential pharmacological applications, thus embodying the intricate balance between nature’s beauty and its bountiful, yet hazardous, offerings.

Beyond its beauty and utility, Gloriosa superba is relatively easy to cultivate in warm climates. It’s typically grown from tubers which should be planted in well-draining soil with ample sunlight. When provided with the right conditions, the plant can become an ornamental focal point in gardens or as a part of landscape designs, often gracing trellises or fences with its flamboyant flowers and lush foliage.

In summary, the Climbing-lily embodies a fascinating blend of aesthetic allure and practical applications, making it a plant of great interest both in horticultural circles and among those who appreciate the intricate interplay of beauty and botanical utility.

Common Names

Eng: flame lily, climbing-lily, creeping-lily, flame-lily, glory-lily
Swe: klänglilja
Khm: ស្លែងដងដឹង
En: Climbing-lily, Creeping-lily, Flame-lily, Glory-lily, Flame lily, Gloriosa Lily, The poison plant, Amakukhulume, Manḍhâlika, Climbing lily, Glory Lily, Malabar Glory Lily, Superb climbing lily
Af: Vlamlelie
Ar: باهرة هندية
Bn: উলট চন্ডাল
Bg: Разкошна глориоза
Zh: 嘉兰
Cs: Glorióza vznešená
Dv: ވިހަ ލަގޮނޑި
Nl: Klimlelie
Fi: Keijunlilja
Fr: Glorieuse superbe
Hi: कलिहारी
Id: Kembang sungsang
Jv: Kembang sungsang
Kn: ಅಗ್ನಿಶಿಖಾ
Km: ស្លែងដងដឹង
Ms: Pokok Kembang Songsang
Ml: കിത്തോന്നി
Or: ଲହଲାଙ୍ଗଳୀ
Pa: ਕਲਿਹਾਰੀ
Fa: گلوریوسا سوپربا
Pl: Glorioza wspaniała
Pt: Gloriosa, Lírio Glorioso, Raiz-de-empose
Pt-br: Gloriosa, Lírio-trepador
Ru: Глориоза роскошная
Sn: Kajongwe
Si: නියඟලා
Sk: Glorióza pyšná
Es: Gloriosa, Lirio trepador
Su: Katongkat
Sv: Klänglilja
Zh-tw: 嘉蘭
Ta: கோடல்
Te: అడవినాభి
Th: ดองดึง
To: Lile veʻemoa
Vi: Ngót nghẻo

Synonyms

• Gloriosa cirrhifolia (Stokes)
• Gloriosa rockefelleriana (Stehlé & M.Stehlé)
• Gloriosa rothschildiana (O’Brien)
• Gloriosa superba f. angustifolia (Kuntze)
• Gloriosa nepalensis (G.Don)
• Gloriosa verschuurii (Hoog)
• Methonica senegalensis (Poit.)
• Gloriosa doniana (Schult. & Schult.f.)
• Eugone superba ((L.) Salisb.)
• Gloriosa lutea (Anon.)
• Gloriosa superba f. doniana ((Schult. & Schult.f.) T.Durand & Schinz)
• Gloriosa superba var. angustifolia (Baker)
• Gloriosa angulata (Schumach.)
• Methonica doniana ((Schult. & Schult.f.) Kunth)
• Methonica superba ((L.) Crantz)
• Methonica gloriosa (Salisb.)

Distribution

• Andaman Is. (native)
• Angola (native)
• Assam (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Benin (native)
• Borneo (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Burkina (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cabinda (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• Caprivi Strip (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Chad (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• Congo (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Equatorial Guinea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Gabon (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Guinea-Bissau (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• India (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Laccadive Is. (native)
• Laos (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Liberia (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Maldives (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Seychelles (native)
• Sierra Leone (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Togo (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Gilbert Is. (introduced)
• Line Is. (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Santa Cruz Is. (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Solomon Is. (introduced)
• Suriname (introduced)
• Tokelau-Manihiki (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Jul 3, 2019 by Alain Hurpeau (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 5, 2021 by Priyabrata Panja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 11, 2021 by jessie praest (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 17, 2019 by Laure Tomé (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 21, 2021 by Nagulapalli .T.V.Gurumurthy (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Nov 29, 2019 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Helen Pickering (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Helen Pickering (cc-by-nc)

Taken Apr 21, 2018 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 17, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Apr 10, 2016 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 17, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 10, 2016 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 24, 2013 by R. Tournebize (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Raffi Kojian (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 17, 2016 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 29, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 12, 2016 by SATISH Tambe (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 8, 2016 by Eric Leeuwerck (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Feb 22, 2021 by ian connop (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 11, 2022 by xusta (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 10, 2016 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 17, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Djah François Malan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 8, 2016 by Eric Leeuwerck (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Dec 26, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2740024)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:535953-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Gloriosa superba L.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Forb/herb, Vine

Growth