Family: Amaryllidaceae
Crinum × amabile (giant spider lily, Queen Emma-lily) is a herbaceous perennial native to Seychelles and Mauritius. It is prized for its large, showy flowers that are loved by gardeners. The Tao people, who are indigenous to Orchid Island in Taiwan, use slices of the plant’s stem, called vakong, tied to a heavy object to attract fish into their nets. Additionally, the Paiwan and Puyuma peoples use this plant, known as livakong, as a natural boundary marker. Additionally it is important to note that the entire plant is toxic, especially the bulb. Poisoning can lead to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In severe cases, ingestion of Crinum asiaticum may cause more serious effects such as respiratory distress, convulsions, cardiac abnormalities, and death. This plant has not been documented as naturalized in any Hawaiian Islands to date.
High Risk Traits:
- Grows, and could spread, in regions with tropical climates.
- Other species may be weedy and invasive.
- Mildly toxic to animals and people if ingested.
- Shade-tolerant, although can grow in full sun.
- A bulb-forming geophyte; may allow plants to persist unless uprooted.
- Propagated, and could potentially spread, by vegetative offsets.
- Tolerates and can grow back after cutting and pruning.
Low Risk Traits:
- No confirmed reports of naturalization or invasiveness
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- A putative sterile hybrid that does not produce seeds.
- Lack of seed productions limits the potential for inadvertent, or long-distance dispersal.
