Gloriosa superba 

Flame lily is a climber with spectacular red and yellow flowers, but all parts of the plant (especially the tubers) are extremely poisonous and can be fatal if eate

All parts of the plant, but especially the tubers (swollen, underground stems), are extremely poisonous and the ingestion of flame lily has caused many accidental deaths. It has also been used to commit murder, suicide, to induce abortions and to poison dogs. African porcupines and some moles are reputed to be able to consume the roots with no ill effects.

Synonym: 

Methonica superba, Eugone superba

Genus: 

Gloriosa

main info

Threats and conservation

Flame lily is in decline in some areas of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and southern Africa, due to over-collection of the seeds and tubers. Although commercially cultivated in southern India, it is estimated that pharmacies and drug manufacturers in India fulfil up to 75% of their raw material demand from wild populations.

Conservation assessments carried out by Kew

Gloriosa superba is being monitored as part of the Sampled Red List Index Project, which aims to produce conservation assessments for a representative sample of the world’s plant species. This information will then be used to monitor trends in extinction risk and help focus conservation efforts where they are needed most.

Flame lily has a wide variety of uses, especially within traditional medicine as practised in tropical Africa and Asia (including Ayurvedic medicine in India). It contains the alkaloid colchicine, which has been used effectively to treat acute gout, intestinal worms, infertility, wounds and other skin problems. It has also been used as an antidote for snake bite, as a laxative, and to induce abortion. It has proven useful in the treatment of chronic ulcers, arthritis, cholera, colic, kidney problems and typhus.

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AIDS DAY

AIDS 2016 Conference Objectives

AIDS 2016 aims to reinvigorate the response to HIV and AIDS by: 

1. Bringing together the world’s experts to advance knowledge about HIV, present new research findings, and promote and enhance scientific and community collaborations around the world; 
    
2. Promoting HIV responses that are supported by and tailored to the needs of at risk populations or people living with HIV, including women and girls, men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, young people, and people who use drugs;
    
3. Promoting activism and community mobilization that holds leaders, industry, and governments accountable and increases their commitment to an evidence-based, human-rights-affirming HIV and AIDS response; 
    
4. Advancing a clear agenda for HIV in a post-2015 framework, including the cross-cutting issues of criminalization, gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, rights, and stigma and discrimination that keep people living with HIV at the center of the HIV response; and 
    
5. Building innovative partnerships with businesses, community, government, and science to strengthen HIV prevention and treatment efforts.

national educational day

NATIONAL Education Day

National Education Day is an annual observance in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of   

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of independent India, who served from 15 

August 1947 until 2 February 1958. National Education Day of India is celebrated on 11 November 

every year

The Ministry of Human Resource Development, had on September 11, 2008 announced, “The Ministry 

has decided to commemorate the birthday of this great son of India by recalling his contribution to the 

cause of education in India. November 11 every year, from 2008 onwards, will be celebrated as the 

National Education Day, without declaring it a holiday.

Powerpoint on environmental issues from Monika Uppal

sandal .....................

“The greatest discovery of my generation is human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind”

……… William James

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