Fresh leaves were sometimes crushed and applied in a thin layer on a defined skin area, for a very brief duration. This traditional practice requires precise knowledge and must never be replicated without specialized guidance, due to the risk of transcutaneous absorption of toxic substances. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or a recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
Gloriosa grows wild in the savannas and forest edges of tropical and southern Africa; it is also cultivated as an ornamental plant in some gardens, but is rarely offered in herbalist shops due to its toxicity.
The leaves develop during the rainy season, when the vine also blooms with its spectacular red and yellow corollas.