Scadoxus mutiflorus
(Martyn) Raf.
Fireball lily, Powder-puff lily
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Caution
The leaves can be eaten, though caution should be exercised.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland, savannah woodland and coastal sands. It grows up to 2,200 m above sea level.
Africa, Asia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Congo R, East Africa, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, SE Asia, Singapore, South Africa*, West Africa, Zambia,
How to Identify
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 70 m tall. The bulbs are a flattened round shape. They are white with red stains. The false stem is fleshy and sturdy. It is 2.5 cm across. It is white with purple spots. The leaves are strap shaped and they have wavy edges. They are arranged in spirals. The flowers are in a round group 15 cm across. They are on stalk 60 cm long that comes from the base. The flowers are pink to red. The fruit are very small berries. The seeds are soft.
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from seeds, offsets or bulbs.
Names & Synonyms
Bunga desember, Lili bola api
References (6)
- Chapman, J. D. & Chapman, H. M., 2001, The Forest Flora of Taraba and Andamawa States, Nigeria. WWF & University of Canterbury. p 208
- Grivetti, L. E., 1980, Agricultural development: present and potential role of edible wild plants. Part 2: Sub-Saharan Africa, Report to the Department of State Agency for International Development. p 70 (As Haemanthus multiflorus)
- Mutie, F. M., et al, 2023, Important Medicinal and Food Taxa (Orders and Families) in Kenya, Based on Three Quantitative Approaches. Plants 2023, 12, 1145
- Nkeoua, G. & Boundzanga, G. C., 1999, Donnees sur les produits forestieres non ligneux en Republique du Congo. FAO. p 28 (As Haemanthus multiflorus)
- Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 1134
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
