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Description: Known in English as the “grand crinum” or “spider lily” (because of the shape its flowers), Crinum asiaticum, a large, bulbous herb that actually belongs in the Amaryllis family, not the Lily family. C. asiaticum produces a rosette of 6-30 long, narrow or oblong, acute, stemless, evergreen leaves, up to about 2 m (~6 ft) long, and clasping at the base. A thick, more or less flattened flower stalk grows out of the center of the rosette of leaves to heights of about 60 cm (~2 ft). The flowers consist of a narrow, straight or curved, white to reddish tube, from which six long petals, up to about 10 cm (4 in) long, spread widely or in a funnel shape. The yellow-green fruits are fleshy, irregularly-rounded, 2.5-6.5 cm wide, and 1-3 seeded.
Distribution: Crinum asiaticum is native to Southern Asia where it is normally found along seashores and other sandy places near riverbanks; it is used traditionally as a source of medicine in many regions where it grows. It is now cultivated in numerous tropical areas, mainly as an ornamental. Early voyagers probably brought this plant to Micronesia; indeed, this plant, and its introduction on numerous Micronesian islands, is referred to in a well-known, traditional Yapese “navigator's story.” Today, it is sometimes found as an ornamental plant growing near houses, as well as on beaches and along village paths and in coastal areas. Another related species, also known in English as “spider lily” or “beach spider lily,” Hymenocallis littoralis (see under the binomial name below), is native to tropical America and was probably introduced to Micronesia more recently. The much smaller beach spider lily, H. littoralis is sometimes confused with Crinum lily (C. asiaticum). For example, on Chuuk the names Siipw and Kiyopw are sometimes used to refer to both of these species. According to the late botanist Raymond Fosberg, Crinum bakeri Schumann is a cultivated plant known only from the Marshall Islands that was probably brought there by the Marshallese, but possibly is actually a plant variety obtained through cultivation (a cultivar) of local origin form Crinum asiaticum (for more detail on this plant in the Marshall Islands, see Vande Velde 2003).
Uses by Island or Island Group:
Uses in Palau: In the islands of Palau, the root of the large “spider lily,” Crinum asiaticum, is reportedly “crushed and applied to a bruise,” which is “then wrapped with a leaf of the plant” (Okabe, see Defillips et al. 1988). In addition, the white leaf petiole of C. asiaticum has traditionally been used in Palau to wrap and tie around a fishhook to use as a lure (etak’l) when drug behind a canoe. (Otobed 1968).
Uses in Yap and its outer islands:The large introduced Crinum or Spider Lily (C. asiaticum) is known as Guyab or other names in Yap and its outer islands where the shining white basal part of the leaves is reportedly used as a lure to cover hooks in traditional fishing. This large lily also a number of medicinal uses in Micronesia including Yap. According to Okabe (see Defillips et al. 1988), part of this plant is mixed with other plants such as Ficus prolixa or Alpinia carolinensis for medicine in this area of western Caroline Islands. On Ulithi Atoll this plant is also used medicinally and as a charm. It is likewise used medicinally on the raised coral reef island of Fais, while on Ifaluk Atoll its only uses are for leis and ear ornaments. As noted above, a second, smaller “spider lily” (Hymenocallis littoralis), which was probably introduced to Micronesia more recently, is sometimes confused with Crinum asiaticum.
Uses in the Mariana Islands: According to Safford (1905:251), the bulb of Crinum asiaticum, the giant spider lily (Chamorro name Pigá pilayi), was traditionally bruised and the expressed juice used as an emetic on Guam; Safford also referred to some uses of the Giant Spider Lily beyond Micronesia, for example: “In some countries the bulb is chewed as an antidote for wounds of poisoned arrows and poisonous reptiles, and also as a remedy for sickness caused by eating poisonous fish.” According to Fosberg et al. (1975:18), in the Northern Marianas Islands, “Crinum asiaticum L.?” was observed as growing spontaneously and abundantly, on “cliffs and lower seaward slopes,” as well “planted around graves.” Fosberg and his colleagues indicated that this plant was “Asiatic” in origin and “widely planted as an ornamental, possibly native in Northern Marianas.”
Uses in Chuuk: In Chuuk, where the Crinum or Spider Lily (Crinum asiaticum) is known as Siipw (or other Chuukese names), it is reportedly a common planting in coastal villages, where it is cultivated “along borders and paths for its flowers” (Manner 2013:226). The stem of this large attractive lily plant, is used in traditional medicine to cure chúúnúket, a sickness that a pregnant woman experiences which is believed to be caused by énúúsooso or sooyénú (certain kinds of sorcery or magic); this sickness is said to harm the baby or cause an abnormal baby if proper medicines are not used. Siipw is thus used to cure any baby that may be born abnormal at birth. The fruit is ponded and applied to the baby after birth. A female adorned with the flower of this plant is said to be a sign of engagement and thus warns other men not to bother her. According Davis (1999:213), the stalk of the large Spider Lily “is used for medicine for Stonefish envenomations [venomous injections].”
Uses on Namoluk Atoll: The flowers of Crinum asiaticum (known on Namoluk Atoll as “pullai” or “kiop” are used in garlands, the leaves are used to wrap food before cooking, and the hollow “skin” of the trunk is used in trolling lines in deep-sea fishing. This plant also has a number of medicinal uses on Namoluk Atoll (Lessa 1975). According to Marshall (1975:30), C. asiaticum, the Crinum Lily in common on Namoluk Atoll and has a number of uses:
“Often planted near houses for their attractive flowers, these lilies also grow wild in coconut groves near the lagoon beach. Their flowers are used in leis, the leaves are used to wrap food before cooking (especially certain kinds of fish), and the “skin” of the main trunk is sometimes incorporated into trolling lures for tuna and other game fish. Leaf fibers used to serve as wound dressings before gauze and cloth became available, and leaves, suits, flowers and roots form ingredients in various medicinal recipes.”
Uses on Puluwat Atoll: Two varieties of this species are recognized on this atoll (Kiopw mwootiw, with deep lavender flowers, and Kiopw pwuniwal); these are planted occasionally as an ornamental around houses, but rarely elsewhere. On Puluwat Islet the related “spider lily” (Hymenocallis littoralis), known as Liiriyo, is commonly cultivated along paths and its flowers reportedly were often woven into leis (e.g., see Manner and Mallon 1989).
Uses on Pohnpei: Kiepw orKiup (as Crinum asiaticum is known in Pohnpeian) is sometimes integrated into house gardens as an ornamental plant, and its flowers are on occasion included in mwaramwar (head garland or lei). Balick and his colleagues (2009:253) offered the following concerning the medicinal uses of the Giant Spider Lily on Pohnpei:
“To protect wounds from flies, stem pieces are places on wounds as a cover …. To treat the kilin kidi (impetigo), one leaf is heated over a fire, mixed with coconut meat (Cocos nucifera), and rubbed into the skin…. To treat sore nerves, the longest root of one plant is added to scraped coconut meat, then placed in a piece of cloth with a hot stone, and rubbed into the sore area …. To treat unopened boils, eight crushed fruits are placed in a piece of cloth and gently rubbed into the boil until the boil is gone…. To treat arthritis, fruits are pounded into a piece of cloth, squeezed into a cup of water and consumed (on cup daily) for four or eight days…. To treat centipede bites, an unspecified amount of one clean tuber is scraped off and placed onto the….”
Uses on Pingelap Atoll: St. John (1948)reported that Crinum asiaticum was seen only as a cultivated plant in the village as an ornamental on Pingelap Atoll.
Uses in the Marshall Islands: White Kieb (Crinum asiaticum) is also know as Kiob in the Marshall Islands; the name Kieb, according to Vander Velde (2003:22), is a general term for most lily species in the Marshall Islands, which were probably introduced to these atolls from Asia in more recent times. On these atolls, C. asiaticum is planted in rows and now acts as boundary markers signifying land ownership. In addition to the plant's use as a visual ornamental, cut flowers impart a pleasant aroma to people's homes and provide party decorations. Red Kieb (species?), which probably arrived in the Marshall Islands before Europeans appeared, grows outside of houses and along roadsides. Cut pieces of Kieb are mixed with copra are fed to pigs and chickens. Kieb also has a variety of medicinal uses. Sufferers from boils treat their affliction with Kieb. Medical practitioners also utilize parts of Kieb in the treatment of broken bones, and on wounds to stop bleeding. The young stalks may be pounded and applied as a poultice to an (internally) injured knee. The inner shoots of a thick stalked variety of Kieb are also said to be an ingredient of a medicine for babies. Taafaki et al. (2006:133) offered the following information regarding the use of this species in the Marshall Islands:
“The green leaved and white flowered variety of kiob (C. asiaticum) is used medicinally. It is sometimes used as hedging and its leaves are used for wrapping breadfruit when baking in an earth oven. Some people are allergic to kiob - so healers always test it on the skin of their patient first.”
Vander Velde (2003:22) discussed Crinum bakeriSchumann, the enigmatic “Marshall Islands crinum lily”:
“Aboriginal horticultural origin. Known only from the Marshall Islands (and possibly from some of nearby atolls). Classified as among some of the most primitive of the crinums, with ancient ties with species in the wetlands of Asia and Malaysia. [Fosberg et al. 1987] and Fosberg [1990] list [Crinum bakeri] as also recorded on Rongelap, Utdrik, Wotho, Likiep, Ailinglaplap, Mili and Jaluit. The only description that could be found was the original description by Schuman in 1888 in Engler's Jahrbuch IV, p. 149: ‘Leaves lineary, 1-1½ ft.long by 1¼ to 1½ inches wide, rather undulated on smooth margins. Perianth tube to blossom rather curves, only 1½ to 2 inches long by ¼ inch wide. Filaments rather shorter than the petals. Anthers linear, an inch long. Habitat: Marshall Islands.’ Fosberg [1990] speculates that it was ‘probably brought by the Marshallese, but possibly a cultivar of local origin from Crinum asiaticum L.’ L. S. Hannibal (pers. cornrn. 2000) stated that it has similarities with the smaller C. japanicum (Baker) Stenaster, which is at times classified as a variety of C. asiaticum, although there is sufficient justification for a separate species status. Also bears a similarity with C. watti. Not seen by any of the current authors, upon inquiring, no people indicated any knowledge of it (Hannibal undated, [Fosberg et al. 1987; Fosberg 1990]).”
Uses in Kiribati: Te kiebu is the local Nauruan name for Crinum asiaticum “(probably an adaptation of the Nauruan dagiebu or dagibu) for three species of Crinum lilies, which were probably first introduced from Nauru” (Thaman 1990:11). Accoring to Catala (1957) and Moul (1957), Te kiebu (C. asiaticum, also reputedly known as Te ruru in Kiribati), is planted as an ornamental around the village houses, especially where flowers are much appreciated and are used in garlands; it is also planted to mark the site of ancient graves. According to Catala (1957:90), “the young inner leaves are crushed and the juice squeezed out and poured in the ear in cases of earache,” Thaman and Tye (2015:19-20) reported the existence of both Crinum xanthophyllumHannibal and C. asiaticum as ornamental plants on large Kiritimati (Christmas) Atoll in the Northern Line Islands of the Republic of Kiribati where both of these large “crinum lily” plants are known as Te kiebu (or also as Te ruru in the case of C. asiaticum).
Uses in Banaba: According to Grimble (1952:29), large spiderlilies were abundant on the paths or roadway on this raised-reef island when he was there in the early 20th century: “Everywhere there were crinum lilies at your feet that grew like tiger-lilies, but waxen white, in orderly shingled borders and clustered in starry clups up against the tree trunks.” However, according to Thaman and Samuelu (2016:17), although the smaller beach spider lily, Hymenocallis littoralis, is reportedly still common on this island, the “grand crinum lily Crinum asiaticum, which was not seen in 2005, was reportedly very common in the past and is still common and well-known on Nauru.” Thaman and Samuelu (2016:40) also added these remarks about Crinum asiaticum on Banaba in the past as well as on other remote islands in the region:
“Planted ornamental lily [C. asiaticum] with green leaves; often planted along borders. Reportedly present in past by Fosberg, Sachet and Oliver (1987) and seen in historical photo in Sigrah and King (2002:22); te kiebu is reported to be the plant (“tree” as translated from te kai in Kiribati) that was slashed by a Japanese soldier during the war to test the sharpness of his sword before beheading an I-Kiribati prisoner known as Kamoaa (Sigrah and King 2001). Very common on both Nauru and in the Gilbert Islands (Fosberg et al. 1987).”
Uses in Nauru: Known as Dagiebu or Dagibu, the spider lily (C. asiaticum) is planted on Nauru as an ornamental, the flowers C. asiaticum are used in garlands, and the roots are crushed and used in the “treatment of filariasis” (Thaman et al. 1994:57).