Chinese jacinth
Scilla scilloides

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A herb that forms a bulb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows about 1.8 m tall. The bulbs are oval and 2-4 cm long. The leaves are narrow and 10-50 cm long by 1 cm wide. The flowers are small and rose pink. They are in a dense group at the top of a stalk 20-60 cm long. The fruit is a 3 sided capsule 2-3 mm long. The seeds are black. Possibly now Barnardia japonica

There are about 90 Scilla species. It has anticancer properties. Also put in the family Hyacinthaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on open hillsides with poor soil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Slovenia

How it is used for food

The bulb is soaked, cooked and eaten.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Leaves, root, bulb

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Morska čebulica, Mureut

Synonyms

Scilla chinensis; Scilla japonica Baker; Scilla sinensis (Lour.) Merrill;