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Crinum 'Menehune'

Family Name:	Amaryllidaceae
Common Name:	Red Bog Lily, Red Swamp Lily, Fire & Ice Bog Lily

Crinum 'Menehune', or known as the Red Bog Lily, is a cultivated tropical hybrid with dark purple to near black foliage and pink flowers. This cultivar remains compact, growing no more than a metre in height and spread, and is tolerant of waterlogged soil. It is best grown in full sun for darker foliage and more flowers.

Full Sun

Lots of Water

Ornamental Flowers

Ornamental Leaves

Underground Storage Organ

Aquatic

Herbaceous Plant

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Infraspecific Epithet
Name Status (botanical)
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Herbaceous Plant, Aquatic & Hydrophyte (Emergent Aquatic, Waterside / Marginal)
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Compact
Maximum Height	0.6 m to 1 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width	0.6 m to 1 m

Biogeography

Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical
Local Conservation Status	Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only)

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a short, bulb-bearing herbaceous perennial that grows up to 1m tall.
Roots	The roots are fibrous, like most monocots. They are also contractile roots that help pull their bulbs deeper into the ground for better anchorage.
Foliage	The leaves are strap-shaped (60 cm long & 2.5–5 cm wide), glossy, dark purple to near black, with an entire leaf margin, and a slightly pleated leaf surface. The leaves are arranged in a rosette.

Flowers	The inflorescence is an umbel (a type of inflorescence in which the flowers radiate from the same point of a peduncle). The peduncle or scape (inflorescence stalk) is thick and dark red. The flowers are composed of six narrow, pink, recurved tepals (indistinguishable petals and sepals that resemble one another) and six long, dark red stamens.
Fruit	The fruit is a capsule (a type of dry, dehiscent fruit).
Others - Plant Morphology	It produces underground tunicate bulbs (modified storage organs composed of a reduced stem (basal plate), multiple fleshy leaves and a tunic or dry, membranous scale leaves), which can grow to 22 cm wide or more.
Taxonomy	This cultivar is a hybrid, supposedly a cross between Crinum amabile and an unknown Crinum species from the Caribbean, and was first introduced into trade by the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.
Cultivation	It grows best in bright, direct sunlight and fertile soil with plenty of organic material. It is tolerant of light, dappled shade and waterlogged soils. To cultivate as an emergent aquatic plant, the plant should be grown in a 1–3-gallon pot, with the soil surface 8–15 cm below the water. It is susceptible to the black-and-yellow striped amaryllis caterpillar (Brithys pancratii) and occasionally snails and slugs. It can be propagated by division.
Etymology	The genus Crinum is derived from Greek krinon "lily". The cultivar name 'Menehune' is derived from a mythological race of Hawaiian forest dwellers, who were short, dark-skinned, and kept to themselves.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	This cultivar is grown for its ornamental foliage and flowers. The dark red leaves will provide contrast against a mostly green landscape. It will thrive in waterlogged areas and can be grown along pond margins or as an emergent aquatic plant.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Flowers
Landscape Uses	Marsh / Bog, Pond / Lake / River, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens

Thematic Landscaping	Bioswales / Sunken Garden, Water Garden, Marsh Garden
Usage Hazard - Cons	Toxic Upon Ingestion, Irritant - Sap
Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks	Irritant Sap/ Toxic Upon Ingestion: All plant parts contain alkaloids that can cause irritation to skin when handled. Consumption of any plant parts, especially the bulbs, can result in vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, irregular breathing, rapid pulse, and fever. Avoid handling the plants without gloves and keep plants away from children and pets.

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Lots of Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast to Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Waterlogged Soils
Diseases	It is susceptible to the black-and-yellow striped amaryllis caterpillar (Brithys pancratii) and occasionally snails and slugs.
Pest(s)	Associated with, Chewing Insects
Propagation Method	Division, Storage Organ (Bulb)
Propagation Method Remarks	Propagate by dividing the bulbs or replanting offsets.
Planting Distance	0.9 m to 1.2 m

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Red, Purple, Brown
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Glossy / Shiny

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Purple, Brown, Red
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Rosulate / Rosette
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Sessile
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Linear)
Foliar Venation	Parallel
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute
Foliar Base	Clasping
Typical Foliar Area	Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ), Macrophyll ( 182.25cm2 - 1640.25 cm2 )

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Herbaceous
Root Type	Underground (Contractile, Fibrous Root)
Specialised Storage Organ(s)	Underground (Bulb)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Pink
Flower Texture(s)	Smooth

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Stellate / Star-shaped
Inflorescence Type	Umbel
Ovary Position	Inferior / Epipgynous
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule
Seed Quantity Per Fruit	Few (1-5)

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Master ID	30627
Species ID	4936
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.