Agapanthus africanus, Cape, African agapanthus, African blue lily

Agapanthus africanus, or the African lily, is a flowering plant from the genus Agapanthus and Liliaceae (Lily family) found only on rocky sandstone slopes of the winter rainfall fynbos from the Cape Peninsula to Swellendam. The plant is native to South Africa and from that point; it started propagating to the other parts of the world including Europe, Asia, and America. It is also known as the lily-of-the-Nile in spite of only occurring in South Africa. Its popular common names include African-lily, Blue agapanthus, Blue-lily, Lily of the Nile, Cape agapanthus, African agapanthus, African blue lily, agapanthus d’Afrique, ail d’Afrique, tubéreuse Bleue and love flower.

The genus name agapanthus (flower of love) is derived from the Greek word agape meaning love, and anthos meaning love. Specific epithet Africanus is derived from a Latin word referring to its African origin. African lily is a magical and medicinal plant. The flowers are worn as protection against thunderstorms. They are also worn by women to provide strength and boost fertility. The plant is known as an aphrodisiac in Africa. The plant has been used for various medicinal purposes. The plant is useful for the treatment of coughs, colds, chest pains, heart diseases, and paralysis.

African Lily Facts

Plant Description

African lily is a clump-forming, rhizomatous, semi-evergreen perennial plant that normally grows about 25 to 70 cm (9.8 to 27.6 in) in height. The plant is found growing in mountain coastal ranges, rocky places on mountains, between rocks and in depressions on sheets of sandstone rock, subsurface wetlands, in bushland in remnant endangered ecological communities. The plants will not tolerate freezing weather for any length of time. The plant succeeds in most soils but prefers a light, well-drained porous, slightly acidic sandy soil with plenty of leaf mold.

Leaves

Leathery leaves are basal, long, suberect, 2-ranked, and linear-lanceolate, up to 50 centimeters long and 2-4 centimeters wide. Leaves arise directly from the rhizome and may form a leek-like ‘stem’ by sheathing at the base, before separating.  Prominent parallel veining is apparent.

Flower

The slender flower stalk is normally less than 700 mm long, rises from between the leaves, and has a pseudo-umbel of pale to dark blue flowers at its apex. There are 20 to 100 flowers in each rounded umbel, depending on variety and species. Flower color ranges from deep violet-blue to pale shades of blue. Rarely, white-flowered individuals are found. At the end of thin pedicels, are open-faced flowers that have prominent darker veins running along the center of the 3 petals and 3 sepals, which fuse at the base to form a funnel-shaped flower.  The flower has 6 stamens, the anthers of which produce yellow-brown pollen. The ovary is superior and 3-chambered. Fragrance from the flower is mostly not apparent, although a slightly sweet, the herbaceous scent may be noticed under some conditions. The plant flowers from November to April. Peak flowering occurs from December to February. Pollination is by bees, wind, and sunbirds. They bloom primarily in summer, although in frost-free climates they will bloom over a longer season. The flowers also make good cut flowers, and the dried seed heads can be used in arrangements.

Traditional uses and benefits of African lily

• The roots are cardiac and stomachic.
• They are used in the treatment of heart troubles and intestinal pain?.
• It is used by South African traditional healers as a phytomedicine to treat ailments related to pregnancy and to facilitate labor.
• It is used orally or rectally, as a decoction, to ensure an easy delivery and a healthy child.
• It may ease expulsion of the placenta and augment uterine contractions.
• Roots are worn as necklaces for easy childbirth and fertility.
• Decoction of the plant is used in washing newborn babies; also, an infant tonic.
• It is considered an aphrodisiac and is used for impotency and barrenness.
• Leaves are used around wrists to bring down a fever?.
• It may be used for cradle caps or crusts on babies’ heads.
• It may be used as a medicine for impotency and barrenness.
• The plant has mild purgative, aperient, and laxative effects on the gastrointestinal tract and may be applied as a fomentation in severe abdominal pain? of a colicky nature.
• It may be used as a body wash to treat paralysis in combination with Dianthus sp.
• It is made into a paste for the treatment of swollen legs.
• Leaves are also said to be soothing for sore and tired feet.
• It is used for chest complaints and as an expectorant in coughs, including long-established coughs and for colds.
• It is used for symptoms of heart disease, which include chest pains and tightness.
• It has been used in the treatment of high blood pressure and has been shown to inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzymes.
• It is used as a general tonic for infants, a treatment for body rash? and to alleviate the menstrual pains of women.
• Leaves may be used to hold dressings in place and wound around wrists are said to bring down fevers.
• An infusion of powdered, sun-dried roots is taken orally for the treatment of cancer.
• The Zulu use agapanthus to treat heart disease, paralysis, coughs, colds, chest pains, and tightness.
• It is also used with other plants in various medicines taken during pregnancy to ensure healthy children or to augment or induce labor.
• Margaret Roberts recommends hikers put leaves in their shoes to soothe their feet.

Other Facts

• The plant is occasionally gathered from the wild for local medicinal use.
• Young Xhosa brides wear the roots as a necklace as they are said to ensure an abundance of children and easy childbirth.
• The newborn baby may be washed in the decoction to make them strong and keep them free from bowel trouble.
• Isicakathi may be used for a small child who is weak, fails to thrive, or gets pimples on the face and bad rashes on the inner thighs or groin area.
• It is used as a protective charm against lightning and thunder and as medicine taken by people frightened of thunder.
• It is also used as a love charm.
• African lily is a symbol of love.
• It can also symbolize fertility, purity, and beauty.
• The flowers are great as cut flowers and will last for up to 10 days in a vase of water.

Precautions

• The leaf may cause pain? and ulcerations in the mouth.
• It may be irritating to the eyes and skin.
• It has suspected but unproven hemolytic effects.

References