Hymenocallis littoralis (Jacq.) Salisb.

Bakung putih (Hymenocallis littoralis) is a herb 1-2 meters tall of the Amaryllidaceae family, originating from India, Southeast Asia, and northwestern Australia. Since ancient times, communities in Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula have used it as an antidote for poisoned arrow wounds. Bakung putih is also traditionally believed to relieve rheumatism and boils, and help ease childbirth.

Widely found near coasts, lowlands up to elevations of 700 m above sea level, especially in places with moist, humus-rich soil, riverbanks, around lakes, and forest edges. Grows under full sunlight or partial shade.

• Roots differentiated into a layered bulb, 5-10 cm diameter.
• Stem pseudostem, upright, soft, greenish-white.
• Leaves single lance-shaped, 30-80 cm long, 4-8 cm wide, parallel venation, green, fleshy (carnosus), thick and watery.
• Flowers compound, perfect, emerging from leaf axils, umbrella-shaped, the base of the petals close together forming a funnel with the loose tip ribbon-shaped, petals attached to the stamen stalk, white in color, long pistil.
• Fruit a capsule, 3-chambered, fleshy, splits laterally, 1-2 cm long, green in color.
• Seeds  round and flat, skin coated with mucus.

Propagated vegetatively (separating the bulb from the parent plant), generatively (seed).

Alkaloids (hymenolitatine, 11-hydroxyvittatine, 8-O-demethylmaritidine), trispheridine, tazettine, narciclasine, lycoricidine, flavonoids (quercetin 3'-O-glucoside, rutin), pancratistatin.

Treats acne, rheumatism, skin inflammation, boils, ulcers, whooping cough, worm remedy, eases childbirth.

• Wash the leaves and clean off dirt thoroughly.
• Cut the leaves into small pieces. Then dry in an oven at 40 °C.
• Pound the dried leaves until they become a coarse powder.
• Store the dried material in a clean, airtight container/plastic.

Bahong (Batak), Bakung (Malay), Bawang hutan, Bawang tembaga, Kajang-kajang (Palembang), Semur (Bangka), Bakueng (Minangkabau).