Blood-flower

Blood-flower (Hæmanthus), a genus of Amyllidaceæ (q.v.), mostly natives of South Africa, some of which are common in greenhouses. They take their name from the usual colour of their flowers, which form a fine head or crowded umbel. The bulbs are sometimes propagated by cutting them across above the middle, so as to stop the single growing point; new axillary bulbs then form around the outer edge. The species seem generally to possess poisonous properties. The inspissated juice of H. toxicarius is used in South Africa for poisoning arrows.