Pankusum

Common name: Pankusum • Marathi: पानकुसुम Pankusum
Botanical name: Pancratium triflorum Family: Amaryllidaceae (Nargis family )
Pankusum is a herb, 30-40 cm tall, arising from a bulb. Bulb is spherical, 4-5 cm, without a neck. Thin linear-lancelike leaves, 20-45 cm long, arise with the flowers. The scape (stem carrying flowers) is slender, 15-23 cm tall, flattened, with longitudinal lines. Stalkless flowers arise in an umbel of 3-8 flowers, enclosed in a spathe, on top of the scape. Flowers are white, 4-5 cm across, fragrant. Petals are narrow, linear, 2-3 cm - tube is 3-5 cm long. The cup holding the stamens is small, with teeth divided into two, between short filaments. Anthers are prominent and yellow. Fruits are ovoid, 3-angled. Flowers open at night, fade by morning. Flowering: May-June.