The photographed Crinum has variously been identified as Crinum amabile J. Donn (maybe), Crinum purpurascens Herbert (it isn't), and Crinum asiaticum Linnaeus variety procerum forma Splendens (possibly). This is the most spectacular Crinum in my collection and I do not know the names of my other Crinum either. All have been gifts. The taxonomy of Crinum is a nightmare especially since many gardeners have hybridized the plants without keeping records.

This Crinum was planted about ten years ago and is now over eight feet (2.5 meters) tall and eight wide. The dark burgundy-green strap-like leaves average about six and a half feet (2 meters) in length and seven inches (17 cm) wide when fully expanded. The plants reproduce both by off-sets of the bulb and by seed.

This Crinum blooms almost continually during the warmer months. It only recently ceased with the cold snap of the past few weeks. The photograph was taken early in December.

The head of flowers are borne terminally on a long, flattened, serpentine scape. As the inflorescence senesces it droops toward the ground. The seeds are dropped several feet from the parent.

Crinum seeds are large (1 inch, 2.5 cm) and look like lumpy bulbs. The seeds are pale green and water-rich, often they germinate while still attached to the inflorescence.

To learn more about Crinum, click on the link: http://www.crinum.org/