Description

• Crinum is a genus of bulbous flowering plants in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), commonly known as crinums or swamp lilies. These perennial plants grow from large bulbs and produce long, strap-shaped leaves that form a rosette. Their showy, often fragrant flowers grow in clusters on tall, sturdy stalks and may be white, pink, red, or striped. The flowers have six petal-like segments and prominent stamens. Species vary considerably in size and flower form, and some are cultivated as ornamentals.

Range

• Crinum species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, depending on the species. Several species are widely cultivated beyond their native ranges in warm climates. The genus is represented in cultivation and may occur in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.

Habitat

• Depending on the species, Crinum plants grow in wetlands, marshes, stream margins, seasonally flooded grasslands, coastal areas, and other moist habitats. Some species tolerate drier conditions once established, while others favour consistently moist soils. Cultivated plants commonly grow in sunny gardens and warm, frost-free landscapes.