Banks’ fringed lily
Thysanotus banksii
Family: Asparagaceae
What it is like
A delicate herb. It grows 60 cm high. Under the ground there is a tuber which produces above ground parts each year. There are usually 3-5 leaves growing from the base. They are very thin and narrow. They can be 20-60 cm long by 0.1 cm wide. The flowers have mauve to purple streaks. Flowers are about 2 cm across. Usually 1 or 2 flowers occur together on the end of 60 cm long stalks. The fruit are round papery capsules. They are 0.5 cm across. There are several black seeds inside.
There are about 50 Thysanotus species mostly in Australia. Also put in the family Laxmanniaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. Plants grow naturally in open forest among tall annual wet-season grasses. They can grow in seasonal swamps on sandy soils.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin), Pacific, Papua New Guinea
How it is used for food
The underground tuber is cooked and eaten.
Edible parts
Tuber, root