Dear Mary Sue: In the book Zulu Medicinal Plants, An Inventory, Anne Hutchings goes into great detail of the uses of numerous plants. This book, published by the University of Natal press in association with the university of Zululand KwaDiangezwa and National Botanical Instotute, Cape Town, is fascinating and a great one to have in one's library. The cost is some $40.00, it would be worth ones time to see if it is still available. My copy is one of a limited edition, being number 237 of 300 copies. regarding S. natalensis, which by the way is a lovely plant, often reaching over 6 feet in height, it states: Bulb decoctions are used as enemas in children and adults and administered internally to cattle. They are also used as purgatives and as ingredients in infusions taken during pregnancy to facilitate delivery. Dried ground leaves are given to a child who is late in walking. Used for sprains and fractures, and in enemas administered for internal tumors by the Sotho. Dogs treated for fistulae and eczema with aqueous solutions are reported to be healed in five days. The plant contains saponins. Eucomis autumnalis subsp autumnalis, is used in much the same way, but in addition ; milk or water decoctions of bulb shavings and roots, taken for colic, flatulance and abdominal distensions. Bulb decoctions are also used for hangovers, abd for admonial problems, syphilis and as protective chatms for diseases of domestic stock. Both Scilla and Eucomis cause death in sheep. For those interested, Eucomis contain punctatin, autumnalin, eucomin. Other compounds isolated include; di-benzo-ocpyrones, autumnariol and autumnarinol the spitocyclic nortriterpene, choladienoic acid. The book of 450 pages, 8 1/2 by 11, contains all types of information including plants used for love charms etc.. Could the many uses of bulbs be one of the reasons some of us love them so? Happy Holidays to all, and use your Eucomis bulbs and others wisely! For my part I think growing them and seeing them flower works wonders for the spirit. Cheers, John E. Bryan