Gloriosa

Gloriosa is a genus of five species in family Colchicaceae, from tropical Asia and Africa. They are tuberous rooted deciduous perennials, adapted to a monsoon climate with a dormant dry season. They climb or scramble over other plants, with the aid of tendrils at the ends of their leaves, and can reach 3 meters in height. They have showy red or orange flowers, distinctive because of their pronouncedly reflexed petals, like a turk’s cap lily. The plant is sometimes called the Glory Lily. The commonest cultivated species are G. superba and G. rothschildiana. The corms of the plant are used for extracting colchicine.