Agapanthus L'Her. Amaryllidaceae. African Lily. Bulbous plant. Distribution: South Africa. 'Streamline' is a hybrid cultivar of unknown parentage. The roots of Agapanthus africanus are used (in South African 'muthi' medicine) in a decoction for treatment of women in labour and after birth. It is believed to relieve difficult labour and to help the expelling of the placenta. The active chemicals are thought to be saponins and those in Agapanthus have uterotonic activity in crude decoctions (van Wyck, 2000).