Cardiocrinum giganteum

Family: Liliaceae

What it is like

A lily herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has small bulbs 4 cm long by 2 cm wide. The stems are erect and green. They are 1-3 m tall and 3-5 cm wide. They are hollow. The leaves on the lower part of the stem are larger and the ones towards the end are smaller. The leaf stalks are 15-20 cm long. The leaves are oval or heart shaped and 15-20 cm long by 12-15 cm wide. There are 10-15 flowers on the stalk. They are white with a green tinge and purple streaks.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in forests and on hillsides between 1,200-3,600 m above sea level in southern China. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tibet

How it is used for food

The bulb is processed into flour.

Edible parts

Bulb

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

A bo, Chameli, Ghiu pat

Synonyms

Lilium giganteum Wall.; Lilium cordifolium D. Don;