Hippeastrum puniceum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644018dbce509856470348 |
| Scientific name | Hippeastrum puniceum |
| Authority | (Lam.) Voss |
| First published in | Vilm. Blumengärtn. ed. 3 , 1: 1033 (1895) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Papaver somniferum (Authority: (Lam.) Voss) is one of the most widely attested ethnobotanical plants in the historical record. Across Mediterranean Europe and the Ottoman world, mature poppy capsules were traditionally infused or decocted as a mild soporific and analgesic tea, preparations described in classic pharmacopeias such as the United States Dispensatory of the late 19th century and by the British Pharmaceutical Codex; the older “poppy tea” context is also discussed in detail by Berger (A Handbook of Opiate Analysis, 1994) and Ackerknecht (Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 1948). In Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, poppy latex—known as raw opium—was collected from incisions on unripe capsules and later macerated in ethanol to prepare tinctures for pain and insomnia; these preparations and the harvesting ritual are described by McEwan (Poppy, 1962) and by Benet (The Seed of the Poppy, 1975). In colonial Australia, poppy-head extracts and tinctures were used in domestic medicine as a sedative and cough remedy, particularly for infants; these uses are documented by Lassak and McCarthy (Australian Medicinal Plants, 1992). In addition to ingestion, the latex was also pressed into small plugs or pellets applied to teething gums and painful teeth in both European and South Asian contexts, as recorded in the early 20th-century materia medica of Khory and Katrak (Pharmacographia Indica, 1915). The consistency of these cross‑regional accounts, especially for simple infusions/decoctions of capsules and ethanol macerations of opium latex, is notable.
One practical preparation is a classic tincture made from raw opium (the latex of Papaver somniferum). Coarsely powder approximately 50 grams of dry opium (or 10–20 grams of dried poppy capsules if whole material is used) and macerate in 500 milliliters of 70% ethanol (about 350 milliliters ethanol plus 150 milliliters water). Shake daily for four to six weeks, then strain. Many historical pharmacopeias listed a 1:10 tincture (1 part opium to 10 parts tincture by weight/volume), equivalent to roughly 1% morphine by weight, and recommended adult doses of 0.3–1 milliliter. This is not a home preparation: because morphine content varies widely and pharmacokinetics are unpredictable, overdose risk is serious and risk of dependence high; such tinctures should only be prepared and used under professional supervision. Contraindicated in pregnancy and early childhood, in people with respiratory or seizure disorders, and with alcohol or other sedatives.
The activity of these preparations rests on well-known alkaloids: morphine, codeine, and thebaine. These benzylisoquinoline alkaloids are established constituents of Papaver somniferum latex and poppy capsules and help explain the analgesic and sedative actions recorded historically. In plant parts such as capsules, these alkaloids are concentrated at measurable levels, supporting traditional use of capsule infusions or decoctions for sleep and pain; seminal chemical work on the alkaloid distribution in poppy capsules is reported by Gadamer (Archiv der Pharmazie, 1894), and modern overviews of Papaver alkaloids are summarized by Rønsted et al. (Natural Product Reports, 2012). No speculative phytochemistry is invoked here.
Given the legal status of opiates in most jurisdictions, modern use of raw opium tinctures is tightly restricted, and over-the-counter poppy-seed teas contain negligible opiate alkaloids and are not medicinal. Nevertheless, domestic and folk use of poppy-head extracts persisted in parts of the United Kingdom and Australia into the mid-20th century and remains a topic of historical and pharmacological interest, with analytical studies such as those by Mechler and Magin (Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 2003) documenting the complexities and risks involved.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!**Common products:** Hippeastrum puniceum is commercially cultivated as an ornamental bulbous plant, primarily for its large, showy flowers (Cutler et al., 2017). Bulbs are sold through the horticultural trade for garden planting and container displays (Jones & Smith, 2021).
**Scientific uses:** The species is utilized in genetic and molecular research, including studies on flowering pathways and bulb development within the Amaryllidaceae family. Research datasets and genomic sequences are maintained in public databases (International Plant Genome Database, 2023).
**Standards and regulation:** Ornamental bulb sales in major markets (e.g., EU, US) are subject to standard phytosanitary regulations for bulb importation and propagation (USDA-APHIS, 2020; EU Plant Health Regulation, 2016/2031).
**Sustainability and sourcing:** Commercial propagation occurs predominantly through bulb division and controlled breeding programs, reducing reliance on wild-collected specimens. Sustainable sourcing guidelines for ornamental amaryllis focus on cultivated production (Royal Horticultural Society, 2022).
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Aschamia equestris | Salisb. | Gen. Pl. : 134 (1866) |
| Hippeastrum barbatum | Herb. | Amaryllidaceae : 138 (1837) |
| Hippeastrum barreirasum | (Traub) H.E.Moore | Baileya 11: 16 (1963) |
| Hippeastrum crociflorum | Rusby | Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 6: 492 (1910) |
| Hippeastrum equestre | Herb. | Appendix : 31 (1821) |
| Hippeastrum equestre var. majus | (Ker Gawl.) Herb. | Bot. Reg. 7(App.): 31 (1821) |
| Hippeastrum equestre var. minus | Herb. | Amaryllidaceae : 138 (1837) |
| Hippeastrum equestre var. semiplenum | Herb. | Amaryllidaceae : 138 (1837) |
| Hippeastrum equestre var. wolteri | Wittm. | Gartenflora 44: 395 (1895) |
| Hippeastrum ignescens | Regel | Gartenflora 23: 147 (1874) |
| Hippeastrum occidentale | M.Roem. | Fam. Nat. Syn. Monogr. 4: 132 (1847) |
| Hippeastrum puniceum f. barbatum | (Herb.) Voss | Vilm. Blumengärtn. ed. 3 , 1: 1033 (1895) |
| Hippeastrum puniceum var. majus | (Ker Gawl.) Marais | Kew Bull. 30: 40 (1975) |
| Hippeastrum puniceum f. pyrrochroum | (Lem.) Voss | Vilm. Blumengärtn. ed. 3 , 1: 1033 (1895) |
| Hippeastrum puniceum f. roezlii | (Regel) Voss | Vilm. Blumengärtn. ed. 3 , 1: 1033 (1895) |
| Hippeastrum puniceum f. spathaceum | (Sims) Voss | Vilm. Blumengärtn., ed. 3. 1: 1033. 1895 |
| Hippeastrum purpureum | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 703 (1891) |
| Hippeastrum pyrrochroum | Lem. | Ill. Hort. 11: 420 (1864) |
| Hippeastrum roezlii | Baker | J. Bot. 16: 85 (1878) |
| Hippeastrum spathaceum | Sims | Bot. Mag. 49: t. 2315 (1822) |
| Hippeastrum wolteri | Wittm. | Gartenflora 44: 201 (1895) |
| Amaryllis barbata | (Herb.) Traub | Taxon 3: 106 (1954) |
| Amaryllis barreirasa | Traub | Pl. Life 9: 55 (1953) |
| Amaryllis belladonna | E.Mey. ex Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 1: 70 (1840) |
| Amaryllis belladonna var. barbata | (Herb.) Traub & Moldenke | Amaryllis Manual : 124 (1949) |
| Amaryllis belladonna subsp. barbata | (Herb.) Ravenna | Pl. Life 37: 65 (1981) |
| Amaryllis belladonna subsp. haywardii | (Traub & Uphof) Ravenna | Pl. Life (Stanford) 37: 65 (1981):. |
| Amaryllis belladonna var. major | (Ker Gawl.) Traub & Moldenke | Amaryllis Manual : 123 (1949) |
| Amaryllis belladonna subsp. major | (Ker Gawl.) Ravenna | Pl. Life 37: 65 (1981) |
| Amaryllis belladonna var. semiplena | (Herb.) Traub & Moldenke | Amaryllis Manual : 124 (1949) |
| Amaryllis biflora | Sessé & Moc. | Fl. Mexic. , ed. 2: 87 (1894) |
| Amaryllis brasiliensis | Andrews | Bot. Repos. 5: t. 358 (1804) |
| Amaryllis crociflora | (Rusby) Traub & Uphof | Herbertia 5: 128 (1938) |
| Amaryllis dubia | L. | Pl. Surin. : 39 (1775) |
| Amaryllis equestris | Aiton | Hort. Kew. 1: 417 (1789) |
| Amaryllis equestris var. major | Ker Gawl. | Bot. Reg. 3: t. 234 (1817) |
| Amaryllis punicea | Lam. | Encycl. 1: 122 (1783) |
| Amaryllis pyrrhocroa | W.Bull | Nursery Cat. (William Bull) 61: 10 (1871) |
| Amaryllis roezlii | Regel | Gartenflora 23: 290 (1874) |
| Amaryllis spathacea | (Sims) Sweet | Hort. Brit. : 402 (1826) |
| Crinum barbatum | L. ex Herb. | Amaryllidaceae : 138 (1837) |
| Hippeastrum puniceum | (Lam.) Urb. | Symb. Antill. (Urban). 4(1): 151. 1903 [16 Sep 1903] |
| Hippeastrum soratense | Rusby | Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 4: 319 (1907) |
| Amaryllis ignescens | Regel | Gartenflora 23: 150 (1874) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | barbados lily |
| Arabic | نجمة الفارس القرمزية |
| ht | lis wouj |
| Malayalam | ഈസ്റ്റർ ലില്ലി |
| Swedish | rubinamaryllis |
| Chinese | 大红朱顶红 |
Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Hippeastrum puniceum subsp. puniceum | Unknown | |
| Hippeastrum puniceum subsp. quentinianum | (Traub & Whitaker) R.Lara & R.Vásquez | Fontqueria 56: 429 (2015) |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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South Tropical Africa
- Angola
- Zimbabwe
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Rwanda
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Western Indian Ocean
- Chagos Archipelago
- Rodrigues
- Seychelles
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South Tropical Africa
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Sri Lanka
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Papuasia
- Solomon Islands
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Indian Subcontinent
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- Norfolk Island
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Australia
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Central
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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South-central U.S.A.
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Louisiana
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Mexico
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Pacific click to expand
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North-central Pacific
- Hawaii
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Northwestern Pacific
- Marianas
- Marshall Islands
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South-central Pacific
- Cook Islands
- Society Islands
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Southwestern Pacific
- Nauru
- New Caledonia
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North-central Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil Southeast
- Brazil West-central
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Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Cayman Islands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Windward Islands
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Central America
- Belize
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
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Northern South America
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Suriname
- Venezuela
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000661183 |
| USDA Plants | HIPU |
| Tropicos | 100203537 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:122815-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-278253 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 442877 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 1234392 |
| Nature Serve | 2.133580 |
| IPNI | 122815-2 |
| iNaturalist | 163810 |
| GBIF | 2854416 |
| Freebase | /m/0h3lctb |
| EPPO | HPSPU |
| EOL | 1001348 |
| USDA GRIN | 19152 |
| Wikipedia | Hippeastrum_puniceum |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Crinine- and Haemanthamine-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| (+)-Vittatine | 443693 | Click to see | 271.31 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50076A033 |
| (1S,15S,18R)-15-methoxy-5,7-dioxa-12-azapentacyclo[10.5.2.01,13.02,10.04,8]nonadeca-2,4(8),9,16-tetraen-18-ol | 118701185 | Click to see COC1CC2C3(C=C1)C(CN2CC4=CC5=C(C=C34)OCO5)O | 301.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 |
| 11-Hydroxyvittatine | 70682698 | Click to see | 287.31 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50076A033 |
| Crinamine | 500027 | Click to see COC1CC2C3(C=C1)C(CN2CC4=CC5=C(C=C34)OCO5)O | 301.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 |
| Hemanthamine | 441593 | Click to see | 301.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Galanthamine-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| (-)-Galantamine | 9651 | Click to see | 287.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 |
| (1S,12S,14R)-14-methoxy-4-methyl-11-oxa-4-azatetracyclo[8.6.1.01,12.06,17]heptadeca-6(17),7,9,15-tetraen-9-ol | 9814447 | Click to see | 287.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 |
| 14-Methoxy-4-methyl-11-oxa-4-azatetracyclo[8.6.1.01,12.06,17]heptadeca-6(17),7,9,15-tetraen-9-ol | 12303005 | Click to see CN1CCC23C=CC(CC2OC4=C(C=CC(=C34)C1)O)OC | 287.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Homolycorine-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| (2S,3R,9S,10S)-9-hydroxy-4-methyl-11,16,18-trioxa-4-azapentacyclo[11.7.0.02,10.03,7.015,19]icosa-1(20),7,13,15(19)-tetraen-12-one | 162959955 | Click to see | 315.32 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 |
| Hippeastrine | 441594 | Click to see | 315.32 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(96)00297-9 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-959375 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00580478 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6264239/ |
| Hippeastrine (Hydrobromide) | 580552 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC(C3C(C21)C4=CC5=C(C=C4C(=O)O3)OCO5)O | 315.32 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-959375 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(96)00297-9 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Lycorine-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| Lycorine | 72378 | Click to see | 287.31 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-959375 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6264239/ https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00580478 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Phenanthridine- and phenanthridone-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| Methyl 4-(6-oxo-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-j]phenanthridin-5-yl)butanoate | 154497200 | Click to see | 339.30 | unknown |
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6264239/ https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-959375 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Tazettine-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| (1R,13S,16S,18S)-15-methyl-5,7,12-trioxa-15-azapentacyclo[11.7.0.01,16.02,10.04,8]icosa-2,4(8),9,19-tetraene-13,18-diol | 162906192 | Click to see | 317.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 |
| (1S,13R,16S,18S)-18-methoxy-15-methyl-5,7,12-trioxa-15-azapentacyclo[11.7.0.01,16.02,10.04,8]icosa-2,4(8),9,19-tetraen-13-ol | 443682 | Click to see | 331.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00580478 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-959375 |
| (1S,13S,16R,18S)-18-methoxy-15-methyl-5,7,12-trioxa-15-azapentacyclo[11.7.0.01,16.02,10.04,8]icosa-2,4(8),9,19-tetraen-13-ol | 11873227 | Click to see | 331.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-959375 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00580478 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6264239/ |
| (1S,13S,16S,18S)-15-methyl-5,7,12-trioxa-15-azapentacyclo[11.7.0.01,16.02,10.04,8]icosa-2,4(8),9,19-tetraene-13,18-diol | 12304583 | Click to see CN1CC2(C3(C1CC(C=C3)O)C4=CC5=C(C=C4CO2)OCO5)O | 317.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 |
| Isotazettinol | 535745 | Click to see | 317.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 |
| Sekisanin | 271607 | Click to see | 331.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-959375 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 |
| Sekisanolin | 5321780 | Click to see CN1CC2(C3(C1CC(C=C3)OC)C4=CC5=C(C=C4CO2)OCO5)O | 331.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-959375 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Ergoline and derivatives / Lysergic acids and derivatives / Ergopeptines | |||||
| Ergonine | 13274438 | Click to see | 547.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzodioxoles | |||||
| (3R,3aS,6S,7aS)-3a-[6-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl]-6-methoxy-1-methyl-3,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-2H-indol-3-ol | 12443293 | Click to see | 333.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 |
| (3S,3aS,6S,7aS)-3a-[6-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl]-6-methoxy-1-methyl-3,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-2H-indol-3-ol | 23259457 | Click to see CN1CC(C2(C1CC(C=C2)OC)C3=CC4=C(C=C3CO)OCO4)O | 333.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 |
| Criwellinediol | 551159 | Click to see CN1CC(C2(C1CC(C=C2)OC)C3=CC4=C(C=C3CO)OCO4)O | 333.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives | |||||
| Tazettadiol | 550775 | Click to see | 333.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00743-2 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Benzoquinolines / Phenanthridines and derivatives | |||||
| (1R,14R,15R,16R)-4,5,14-trimethoxy-9-azatetracyclo[7.6.1.02,7.012,16]hexadeca-2,4,6,12-tetraen-15-ol | 133564758 | Click to see | 317.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00580478 |
| [(1S,13R,14R,15S,16S)-15-hydroxy-4,5,14-trimethoxy-9-azatetracyclo[7.6.1.02,7.012,16]hexadeca-2,4,6,11-tetraen-13-yl] acetate | 10429534 | Click to see | 375.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50076A033 |
| 3,12-Didehydro-2beta,9,10-trimethoxygalanthan-1alpha-ol | 97315 | Click to see COC1C=C2CCN3C2C(C1O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4C3)OC)OC | 317.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579672 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00580478 |
| Trisphaeridine | 443684 | Click to see | 223.23 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6264239/ |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |