Blue stars, Blue squill
Chamaescilla corymbosa

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A herb that keeps growing from year to year. It has tuberous roots. These can be 1-7 cm long. The leaves are narrow and in groups of 2-6. They are 5-13 cm long and 1.5-5 mm wide. There can be fine hairs along the edge. The flowering stalk is 25 cm long. There are 1-6 flowers on a stalk. The fruit is a capsule 8 mm across.

Also put in the family Liliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp sandy or peaty soils. It is often in heath or under light forest cover. It is resistant to frost but affected by drought. In Tasmania it grows from sea level to 200 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Tasmania (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The tubers are eaten raw or cooked.

Edible parts

Tubers, root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by division of the tubers or by seed.

Its other names

Local names

Mudrurt

Synonyms

Caesia corymbosa R. Br.; Chamaescilla corymbosa var. alba Guilfoyle; Chamaescilla tasmanica Gand.;