Umme Salma

Many kinds of flowers bloom along Bangladesh's roads and in its forests. Some are cultivated, while others need no cultivation. Lilies are among the most notable, as the country has many kinds, though most lilies have no Bengali name.

The spider lily is one of them. This lovely flower has a light, sweet scent, and the plant has medicinal properties. In tropical countries it is planted to beautify gardens.

The plant forms an onion-like bulb at its base. Its flowers are large, white, fragrant and beautiful. The flowers of this species are white but small, with a light purple tinge under the petals.

The spider lily is native mainly to South Africa, but it has spread to tropical countries around the world. Its scientific name is Hymenocallis littoralis. In different parts of Bangladesh it is known locally as "rosuner ful" (garlic flower) or "makorshar ful" (spider flower).

The spider lily is used as medicine to treat various ailments, such as gastric ulcers, wounds and breathing difficulties. Kabirajs (traditional healers) use it as a medicinal plant, and use the bulb at its base to treat liver problems.

But because the whole plant is poisonous, it can also be harmful. Taking too much can cause paralysis of the nervous system and even death. For its beautiful and eye-catching flowers, the spider lily is a popular ornamental plant.

The writer is a student at Chattogram College.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.