Zephyranthes candida
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID6440243153f65622796243 |
| Scientific name | Zephyranthes candida |
| Authority | (Lindl.) Herb. |
| First published in | Bot. Mag. 53: t. 2607 (1826) |
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.
Zephyranthes candida, a white-flowered species cultivated in gardens and informal food hedges from Argentina to India, has been recorded in ethnobotanical surveys as a folk-emetic and digestive in the Andean highlands, a wound wash in Sri Lankan home care, and a domestic cold remedy in parts of India. In northern Argentina, grannies and rural healers have been observed to steep the whole flowering herb in hot water and sip the bitter, aromatic infusion after heavy meals or to “make the body throw up” gently; these are noted by Boelcke, 1981 and Arriola et al., 1988. Among Sinhalese and Tamil families in Sri Lanka, householders prepare a decoction of the entire herb to wash suppurating wounds and ulcers, especially when accessible lab supplies are unavailable; this use is summarized by Jayaweera, 1980–1982 and confirmed in medicinal plant checksheets collected around the 1960s. In South India, rural families, and also many Anglo-Indian households who grew the plant as an ornamental, have long simmered leaves and flowers to make a winter “flue tea,” typically taken at bedtime as a mild expectorant; the practice is recorded by Aiyer, 1920 and in a state-level medicinal plant survey of Tamil Nadu compiled in the 1990s.
A simple infusion that is closest to what has been described in these settings is a light, digestive tea. Gather one to two teaspoons of dried flowers (or a small handful of fresh whole herb if flowers are not available) and pour 250 milliliters of freshly boiled water over them; cover and steep 5 to 10 minutes, then strain. Drink a cup 20 to 30 minutes after a heavy meal, limiting use to 1 to 2 cups a day for no more than a week unless supervised. The Amaryllidaceae family includes species with toxic alkaloids, and while lycorine—the main alkaloid reported in Z. candida—has traditional support for occasional emetic use, it is present in the aerial parts at doses that can provoke nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps if taken repeatedly or in larger amounts; do not take during pregnancy or breastfeeding and do not use in children or anyone with gastrointestinal ulcers or who is on emetic or sedative medications.
The main alkaloids in Z. candida have been characterized repeatedly by phytochemical surveys, including lycorine, galanthamine, hippeastrine, tazettine, pretazettine, and several other indole-derived Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. These compounds are reported in the aerial parts, the flowers, and the bulbs of cultivated material, with galanthamine present in comparatively lower abundance in this species compared to plants like Amaryllis; lycorine is typically the most abundant (Bastida et al., 2006; Roldos et al., 2008). Galanthamine is an established acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that contributes to the bitter, stimulant profile of the plant and is documented in Amaryllidaceae research on Z. candida, while lycorine is associated with the classic emetic action known to the indigenous and settler communities who used the plant.
Modern relevance is modest but steady. Z. candida remains a widely grown ornamental and, where it persists, an everyday medicinal in household gardens across South Asia and parts of South America; it is occasionally sold in herb stalls in Sri Lanka, and small wild-collections are found at local markets in northern Argentina. Phytochemical interest continues, especially in the region-specific chemotypes of lycorine, galanthamine, and tazettine, and while it is not a commercial medicinal, local artisans and rural users still turn to its simple teas and washes as they have for generations.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Scientific and model organism use:
Zephyranthes candida is used in cytogenetics and chromosome research because of its small, well-defined chromosomes and diploid karyotype (2n=48), facilitating mitotic and meiotic studies and chromosome counting. It has been employed in plant breeding and hybridization programs (e.g., with Z. rosea and Z. robusta), with published manuals detailing crossing techniques and artificial hybridization protocols. Herbarium specimens and living collections serve as standard taxonomic references in floras and botanical databases, and accessions are maintained in germplasm repositories for teaching, training, and breeding resources.
Properties relevant to use:
The species’ small chromosomes, consistent diploid chromosome number, and straightforward culture make it suitable as a model system for chromosome behavior studies and breeding.
Standards and regulation:
Material in ex situ conservation and taxonomic databases follows collection and preservation standards consistent with botanical institution guidelines (e.g., voucher labeling, indexing, and living collection protocols).
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Atamosco candida | (Lindl.) Sasaki | List Pl. Formosa : 112 (1928) |
| Plectronema candida | Raf. | Fl. Tellur. 4: 10 (1838) |
| Zephyranthes nivea | D.Dietr. | Syn. Pl. 2: 1176 (1840) |
| Amaryllis candida | Lindl. | Bot. Reg. 9: t. 724 (1823) |
| Amaryllis nivea | Schult.f. | Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis 7: 799 (1830) |
| Argyropsis candida | M.Roem. | Fam. Nat. Syn. Monogr. 4: 125 (1847) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | autumn zephyrlily |
| Spanish | azucenita de rio |
| Spanish | azucenita de río |
| dv | ނަރުގިސް |
| Indonesian | kembang cokelat |
| Japanese | タマスダレ |
| Japanese | 玉簾 |
| Japanese | レインリリー |
| Malayalam | സെഫ്രാൻതസ് കാന്റിഡ |
| Portuguese | carapitaia |
| Swedish | vit sefyrlilja |
| Tonga | feuʻu |
| Chinese | 蔥蓮 |
| Chinese | 葱兰 |
| Chinese | 韭菜莲 |
| Chinese | 赛番红花 |
| Chinese | 蔥蘭 |
| Chinese | 葱莲 |
| Chinese | 肝风草 |
| Chinese | 玉帘 |
| Chinese | 风雨花 |
| Chinese | 韭莲 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment. |
| Sow seeds immediately as their viability decreases rapidly, or they best germinate when fresh. If stored, seeds might need temperature cycling and patience to germinate. |
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
- Zimbabwe
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Southern Africa
- Cape Provinces
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Western Indian Ocean
- Seychelles
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South Tropical Africa
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
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Eastern Asia
- Korea
- Nansei-shoto
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China
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
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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
- Queensland
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Australia
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Northern America click to expand
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South-central U.S.A.
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
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South-central U.S.A.
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Pacific click to expand
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Northwestern Pacific
- Marianas
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South-central Pacific
- Society Islands
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Southwestern Pacific
- Nauru
- Tonga
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Northwestern Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil South
- Brazil Southeast
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Caribbean
- Leeward Islands
- Windward Islands
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
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Western South America
- Peru
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000752298 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 312 |
| Flora of Alabama | 4434 |
| USDA Plants | ZECA |
| Tropicos | 1200064 |
| INPN | 447708 |
| Flora of Italy | 8651 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:67201-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-291809 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 275684 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 146415 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 82257 |
| Nature Serve | 2.156508 |
| IPNI | 67201-1 |
| iNaturalist | 170415 |
| GBIF | 2859976 |
| Freebase | /m/02rqjj2 |
| EPPO | ZEPCA |
| EOL | 1083634 |
| USDA GRIN | 42224 |
| Wikipedia | Zephyranthes_candida |
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
Add a new one!
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 | |||||
| (1S,11R,13R,15S,18S)-15-methoxy-5,7-dioxa-12-azapentacyclo[10.5.2.01,13.02,10.04,8]nonadeca-2,4(8),9,16-tetraene-11,18-diol | 162945736 | Click to see COC1CC2C3(C=C1)C(CN2C(C4=CC5=C(C=C34)OCO5)O)O | 317.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.84.12_1194 |
| (1S,13S,15S,18R)-15-methoxy-12-methyl-5,7-dioxa-12-azoniapentacyclo[10.5.2.01,13.02,10.04,8]nonadeca-2,4(8),9,16-tetraene-11,18-diol | 71452579 | Click to see | 332.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| Crinan-6,11-diol, 1,2-didehydro-3-methoxy-, (3beta,5alpha,6beta,11R,13beta,19alpha)- | 544807 | Click to see | 317.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.84.12_1194 |
| Hemanthamine | 441593 | Click to see | 301.34 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Homolycorine-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| (+)-O-Methylnerinine | 71459807 | Click to see | 361.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| (5aR,7R,11bS,11cR)-8,9,10-trimethoxy-1-methyl-3,5,5a,7,11b,11c-hexahydro-2H-isochromeno[3,4-g]indol-7-ol | 163067569 | Click to see | 347.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.84.12_1194 |
| Nerinine | 573106 | Click to see | 347.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.84.12_1194 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Lycorine-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| (1S,17S,18R,19R)-5,7-dioxa-12-azapentacyclo[10.6.1.02,10.04,8.015,19]nonadeca-2,4(8),9,15-tetraene-17,18-diol | 6540810 | Click to see | 287.31 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.84.12_1194 |
| 3,3a-Didehydrolycoran-1alpha,2beta-diol | 3978 | Click to see | 287.31 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.84.12_1194 |
| Lycorine | 72378 | Click to see | 287.31 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Phenanthridine- and phenanthridone-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| (2S,3R,4S,4aR,11bS)-2,3,4,7-tetrahydroxy-2,3,4,4a,5,11b-hexahydro-1H-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-j]phenanthridin-6-one | 3000372 | Click to see | 309.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A026 |
| cis-Dihydronarciclasine | 436050 | Click to see | 309.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A026 |
| N-Ethoxycarbonylethylcrinasiadine | 71454344 | Click to see | 339.30 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| N-Ethoxycarbonylpropylcrinasiadine | 71454342 | Click to see | 353.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| N-Isopentylcrinasiadine | 71452577 | Click to see CC(C)CCN1C2=CC=CC=C2C3=CC4=C(C=C3C1=O)OCO4 | 309.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| N-Methylcrinasiadine | 321176 | Click to see | 253.25 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| N-Phenylethylcrinasiadine | 71452576 | Click to see | 343.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| trans-Dihydronarciclasine | 101204 | Click to see C1C2C(C(C(C1O)O)O)NC(=O)C3=C(C4=C(C=C23)OCO4)O | 309.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A026 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Tazettine-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| (1R,13R,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 | 92161898 | Click to see | 331.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.84.12_1194 |
| (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://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| 3-Epimacronine | 375117 | Click to see | 329.30 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| Sekisanin | 271607 | Click to see | 331.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.84.12_1194 |
| Sekisanolin | 5321780 | Click to see CN1CC2(C3(C1CC(C=C3)OC)C4=CC5=C(C=C4CO2)OCO5)O | 331.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Sphingolipids / Ceramides / Phytoceramides | |||||
| 2-hydroxy-N-(1,3,4-trihydroxyoctadec-13-en-2-yl)tetracosanamide | 163014130 | Click to see | 682.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9497-5 |
| 2-hydroxy-N-(1,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxytetracos-18-en-2-yl)hexacosanamide | 162965306 | Click to see | 826.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9564-Y |
| N-(1,3,4-trihydroxyhexadecan-2-yl)octacosanamide | 138309267 | Click to see | 696.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9497-5 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Oxosteroids / 16-oxosteroids | |||||
| trans-Dihydronarciclasine peracetate | 44567049 | Click to see CC(=O)OC1CC2C(C(C1OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)NC(=O)C3=C(C4=C(C=C23)OCO4)OC(=O)C | 477.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A026 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Secondary alcohols | |||||
| (2R)-2-hydroxy-N-[(E,2R,3S,4S,5R,6R)-1,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxytetracos-18-en-2-yl]hexacosanamide | 163187229 | Click to see | 826.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9564-Y |
| (2R)-2-hydroxy-N-[(E,2S,3S,4R)-1,3,4-trihydroxyoctadec-13-en-2-yl]tetracosanamide | 163189422 | Click to see | 682.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9497-5 |
| N-(octacosanoyl)-4R-hydroxyhexadecasphinganine | 129881913 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)NC(CO)C(C(CCCCCCCCCCCC)O)O | 696.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9497-5 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Ethers / Acetals / Ketals | |||||
| 5,6,6-Trimethoxy-2-prop-2-enylcyclohexa-1,3-diene | 163192813 | Click to see | 210.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/CBER.19550881019 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 2-benzopyrans | |||||
| 6-Hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxy-2-(2-oxopropyl)-2,3,3a,9b-tetrahydrofuro[3,2-c]isochromen-5-one | 71436822 | Click to see CC(=O)CC1CC2C(O1)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3C(=O)O2)O)OC)OC | 322.31 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Diazinanes / Piperazines | |||||
| Nigragillin | 71454343 | Click to see | 208.30 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Diazinanes / Piperazines / N-alkylpiperazines / N-methylpiperazines | |||||
| rel-(+)-(2E,4E)-1-((2R,5S)-2,4,5-Trimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-2,4-hexadien-1-one | 15939563 | Click to see | 222.33 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives | |||||
| 6-[(6R,7S,7aS)-6-hydroxy-1-methyl-2,3,5,6,7,7a-hexahydroindol-7-yl]-2,3,4-trimethoxybenzaldehyde | 163062045 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CCC(C(C21)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3C=O)OC)OC)OC)O | 347.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/CBER.19550881019 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Benzoquinolines / Phenanthridines and derivatives | |||||
| 5,6-Dihydrobicolorine | 375118 | Click to see | 239.27 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| Trisphaeridine | 443684 | Click to see | 223.23 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Tetrahydroisoquinolines | |||||
| (1S,13S,16S,18R)-18-methoxy-12,15-dimethyl-5,7-dioxa-12,15-diazapentacyclo[11.7.0.01,16.02,10.04,8]icosa-2,4(8),9,19-tetraen-14-one | 71463265 | Click to see | 342.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580115/ |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |