Brown's lily, Hong Kong lily, White lily
Lilium brownii

Family: Liliaceae

What it is like

A bulb plant. The bulb is round and 2-4.5 cm across. The scales are white. The stem is 0.7-2 m high. The leaves are scattered and often become smaller up the stalk. They are narrow and sword shaped. The leaf blade is 1.8-4 cm long by 7-15 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. There are 5-7 veins. The flowers can occur singly or as several in a group. They have a scent. The flowers are trumpet shaped. The flowers are pink and unspotted. The fruit is a capsule which is 4.5-6 cm long by 3.5 cm wide.

There are about 100 Lilium species. Chemical composition: Protein = 2.4%. Fat = 0.5%. Carbohydrate = 30.9%. Ash = 1.23%. Contains some Vitamin C.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in sparse forests and grassy slopes along river valleys and streams between 100-2200 m altitude in China. It suits hardiness zone 7. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Belgium, Central America, China, Europe, Guatemala, Indochina, Iraq, Korea, Middle East, Myanmar, SE Asia, South America, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The bulbs are eaten boiled with honey. They are also dried and made into flour. They can be added to soup to thicken it. The starch is extracted and sold as lily-root flour.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is often cultivated in China for its edible bulbs. It is available in dried form in Chinese stores in Australia.

Edible parts

Flowers, root, bulb, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bok-hop, Lilly root, Paak-hop, Pai-ho, Ye bai he

Synonyms

Lilium odorum Planch.; Lilium candidum Lour.;