Lesotho: Calla Lillies

These are common as cut flowers in Europe and America, but here is Lesotho – Calla Lilly (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is actually a native endemic plant common in the wet area of the highlands. In some places, we saw them everywhere! Despite the common name of “Lilly”, this is a plant from the Arum family. The white “flower” is actually a spathe (a modified leaf) that wraps around the central area, where the tiny actual flowers are located. Calla lilies contain calcium oxalate crystals, making them toxic if ingested by humans or animals.