Scadoxus multiflorus is a bulbous plant native to most of sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Somalia to South Africa. It is also native to Arabian Peninsula and to the Seychelles. It is naturalized in Mexico and in the Chagos Archipelago.
Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf. (formerly Haemanthus multiflorus Martyn) is a popular deciduous, geophyte, bulb variable in height (15 to 120 cm). The purple- spotted inflorescence stalk is up to 40 cm high and bears an Allium-like spherical head, up to 15 cm diameter with numeros starry red threadlike flowers. The flowers are frequented by a range of insects, particularly butterflies. The long, strap-shaped leaves up to 35 cm long appear with, or shortly after, the flowers. There are three recognized subspecies. The plant contains Boophane, poisonous alkaloids that cause vomiting and gastroenteritis, and possibly death due to heart failure.
