Chinese fairy bells
Disporum cantoniense

Family: Colchicaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows to 1 m high. It has a thick, creeping rhizome or underground stem but no stolons or runners. The stem is usually branched near the end. It is 50-100 cm high. The leaves are alternate. They are sword shaped and taper to the tip. The base is heart shaped. The leaf blade is 5-12 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. The flowers are greenish-white, or purplish. They occur as a few flowers in a flat arrangement at the ends of branches. The fruit is a berry 8-10 mm across. There are 2-3 seeds but sometimes 5.

There are 20 Disporum species.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. In Nepal it grows between 1100-2900 m altitude. In China it grows in forests and thickets between 700-3000 m altitude in S China. It grows best in moist, slightly shaded places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The tender leaves and shoots are cooked as a vegetable. The root stock is sliced, well boiled and cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, root, fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Mhajari, Rang chirta, Sano kukur daino, Wan shou zhu

Synonyms

Fritillaria cantoniense Lour.; Disporum pullum Salisb. ex Hooker; Uvularia chinensis Ker.-Gawler; Disporum cantoniense var. brunneum (C.H.Wright) Handel-Mazzetti; Disporum cantoniense f. brunneum (C.H.Wright)H.Hara; Disporum chinense (Ker Gawler)Kuntze; Disporum pullum var. brunneum C.H.Wright; Streptopus chinensis (Ker Gawler)Smith;