Fauna
Plant

Mangrove Lily

Crinum pedunculatum

Also known as Swamp Lily, River Lily, Stream Lily

Mangrove lilies form massive evergreen clumps along coastal headlands, tidal creeks, and estuarine swamps, anchoring firmly into sandy or muddy soils with thick underground bulb bases. Large clusters of fragrant, star-shaped white flowers burst atop tall stalks during warm months, each blossom bearing slender petals and prominent purple stamens. Well-adapted to brackish inundation and ocean breezes, they provide essential stabilization to vulnerable shorelines while hosting specialized moth caterpillars.

CoastalFloweringFragrant
Mangrove Lily reference1 / 7
(c) Thomas Mesaglio, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thomas Mesaglio · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Spodoptera picta (Lily Caterpillar)
  • Snails
ThreatsCoastal development, habitat clearing, and shoreline reclamation
HabitatsMangrove margins, tidal estuaries, coastal dunes, and swamp edges
Life spanPerennial (decades)
Classification
  1. FamilyAmaryllidaceae
  2. SpeciesCrinum pedunculatum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
All parts contain toxic alkaloids; toxic to humans and pets if ingested.
Why it is dangerous
Contains toxic Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, particularly lycorine, which induce severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and lethargy if ingested.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by broad strap-like leaves emerging from a thick false stem, topped by umbels of spidery white blossoms with long purple stamens.
What to do
Admire flowers and foliage from a safe distance without harvesting, and wash hands if exposed to broken sap.
Responsible observation
  • Observation: Look along tidal estuaries and sheltered salt marshes for flowering stalks in summer.
  • Pet Safety: Keep dogs away from foliage and bulbs, as ingestion causes gastrointestinal distress.
Related species
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