Black sarana, Kamchatka lily
Fritillaria camschatcensis
Family: Liliaceae
What it is like
A bulb plant. It grows 25-40 cm high and 10-15 cm wide. The leaves are arranged in rings or whorls around the stems. The leaves are glossy green. They are sword shaped. The flowers occur as 2 or 3 on a stem. The flowers are bell-shaped and nearly black purple.
There are about 100 Fritillaria species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It can grow in light shade. It needs moist rich soil. In Canada they grow from sea levels to 600 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.
Countries/locations it is found in
Alaska, Asia, Australia, Kodiak Is., Canada, Himalayas, Japan, North America, Russia, Siberia, USA
How it is used for food
The roots or bulbs are roasted and eaten. They are also eaten raw. They can be boiled or dried for later use. They are used for puddings mixed with Empetrum nigrum. They can be used for starch used in bread or soup. Caution: Most fritillarias are poisonous if eaten.
It is a significant food.
Edible parts
Roots, tubers, bulblets, seedspod, caution
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Black lily, Chocolate lily, Eskimo potatoes, Indian rice, Kamchatka fritillary, Kamchatka Missionbells, Koch, Northern rice-root, Rice-of-the-earth, Rice root