Introduction:
Kalihari is also known as Gloriosa superba is the only species in this genus in the autumn- crocus family (Colchicaceae). With various common names including gloriosa lily, glory lily, fire lily, flame lily, climbing lily, creeping lily, and cat’s claw or tiger’s claw, It is a perennial herb and can be grown as climber. Its underground tubers, leaves, seeds and roots are used for preparing various drugs. Drug prepared from kalihari are used for the treatment of rheumatism, anthelmintic, antipatriotic and induce polyploidy. Various tonics and syrups are made from the Kalihari plant.
The average height of plant is 3.5-6m. The leaves are 6-8inch long and are sessile. Flowers are green in color and fruits are 2 inches long. The seeds are numerous and are compressed. Africa, Asia, USA and Sri Lanka are major crop growing countries. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are major Kalihari growing states in India..
Not a true lily (family Liliaceae), it grows naturally in a wide variety of habitats from forests to tickets to grasslands and even in sand dunes and other nutrient-poor soils. Like other members of the Colchicaceae, all parts of this plant are poisonous, containing high levels of the toxic alkaloid colchicine but especially in the tubers. It can be fatal to humans and animals if enough is ingested. In lower doses it has been used as a traditional medicine. This plant is the national flower of Zimbabwe but is considered. a noxious weed in some place such as Australia, some Pacific islands, and some parts of the US.
A plant of the lowland tropics and subtropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 600 meters, the plant has a clear preference for seasonal, monsoon climates with a pronounced dry season. The plant is not resistant to frost. Succeeds in full sun to partial shade. Prefers a moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil. Prefers an acid to neutral soil. The plant has often escaped from cultivation and has been classified as ‘Invasive’ in some areas. Plants propagated from seeds take 3 – 4 years to bloom. Plants can flower and produce seeds all year round, though mainly during the rainy season.
Seed contain high level of colchicines. Cornigerine, 3-demethyl-N-formyl-N-deacetyl- b-lumicolchicine, 3-demethyl-g-lumicolchicine, 3-demethyl colchicines have been isolated from plant. b-sitosterol, its glucoside, a long chain fatty acid, b and g-lumiccolchicines from fresh tubers and luteolin, colchicines, N-formyldeacetylcolchicines and glucosides of 3-demethylcolchicine have been isolated from flowers.
