Annual asphodel
Asphodelus tenuifolius

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It has several fleshy roots. It grows 10-50 cm high. The leaves are narrow and hollow and cylinder shaped. They are less than 5 mm across. The flowers are bell shaped and on the upper part of the flower stalk that arises from the leaves at the base. The flowers are white or pink. The tepals are 4-7 mm long. The fruit capsule is 3-4 mm long. It has a brown vein down the middle.

There are 12 Asphodelus species. Also put in the family Asphodelaceae.

Where it is found

It grows in tropical and Mediterranean places. It grows in grassland and sandy and rocky places. In India it grows up to 2,100 m above sea level. It grows in the desert. It can grow in arid places. It grows in the Sahara.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Asia, Bahrain, Egypt, Europe, India, Kuwait, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Western Sahara

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten raw. They are also used to make a kind of dried milk. The plant is eaten raw and cooked. The seeds are aerial parts are processed into flour and used to make cakes and porridge.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Barwag, Berag, Berwag, Jangali lahsun, Oogakay, Piazakey, Piazi, Pyajh, Tazia, Taziya

Synonyms

It is sometimes included with Asphodelus fistulosus; Asphodelis fistulosus var. tenuifolius (Cav.) Baker;