Is Golden Spider Lily the Same as Red Spider Lily? A Detailed Explanation of the Differences
Golden Spider Lily is also known as Iron-colored Arrow, Yellow-flowered Spider Lily, etc. It is a perennial plant of the genus Lycoris in the amaryllis family, mostly growing on shady, damp hillsides, and is distributed in Fujian, Taiwan, China, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and other places in China. Its appearance is very similar to the Red Spider Lily, with only the flower color differing. Let us take a look together below at whether Golden Spider Lily is the Red Spider Lily!
Is Golden Spider Lily the Red Spider Lily?
Golden Spider Lily is not the Red Spider Lily. The Red Spider Lily comes only in red and white; the red one is called Manjusaka, Red-flowered Spider Lily, and the white one is called Mandarava, White-flowered Spider Lily, while the scientific name of Golden Spider Lily is Yellow-flowered Spider Lily. It belongs, together with the Red Spider Lily, to the perennial plants of the genus Lycoris in the amaryllis family, that is, they differ in flower color. The toxicity of Golden Spider Lily and Red Spider Lily is almost the same, but after processing it can again be used as medicine. The flowers are very beautiful; when it blooms no leaves are seen, and when leaves are seen there are no flowers.
What is the flower language of Golden Spider Lily?
The flower language of Golden Spider Lily is love of death, love that is very painful. Because the whole plant is highly toxic, the flower language and legends about it carry a certain mystical color. Legend says that Golden Spider Lily is the tenderness of demons, a flower in heaven that voluntarily threw itself into hell, yet was sent back by the demons. But because it could not return to heaven it still wandered on the road to the underworld. The demons, unable to bear it, agreed to let Golden Spider Lily bloom on this ordinary road, to give guidance and comfort to those souls departing the human realm, so its flower language is love of death, love that is very painful.
What uses does Golden Spider Lily have?
1. Medicinal value: The whole plant of Golden Spider Lily contains lycorine and other raw materials used for making medicine, and has effects such as eliminating phlegm, inducing vomiting, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and promoting urination, but it is highly toxic and should be used with caution. Its bulb is the raw material for extracting galanthamine, a drug for treating the sequelae of polio. Usually in spring and autumn, the bulbs of wild or cultivated spider lilies after 2 to 3 years are dug up, washed and dried in the sun, or sliced and dried in the sun. When used, apply externally by pounding it into a paste and spreading it on the affected area.
2. Ornamental use: In gardens, Golden Spider Lily can be used as understory groundcover flowers, planted in clumps in flower borders, or planted in a natural style among rocks. Because it has leaves when not in bloom, it is best paired with other herbaceous plants that are more tolerant of light. The planting density is 15 to 20 cm between plants and 40 cm between rows, with 1 row of other evergreen plants planted between the rows. In addition, Golden Spider Lily has a sturdy scape and long flower stems, making it an ideal cut flower material.