Chocolate lily, Grass lily
Dichopogon strictus

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A small lily which forms tufts. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 0.4-1 m tall and spreads 40-90 cm across. The leaves are soft and narrow. They are 40 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. They are grass-like. The flowering stems are slender. They are 30 cm long. The flowers are purple and star shaped. There are 6 stamens which do not have hairs. The anthers have yellow bases. The flowers have a smell. They are 3 cm across. They occur singly in a bract and droop. The fruit is a capsule which is round and 0.8 cm across. This is erect.

There are 12 Arthropodium species. Also put in the family Laxmanniaceae.

Where it is found

A temperate plant. It grows in grassland and woodland. It is a temperate plant but will grow in the subtropics. It can grow in semiarid places. It needs well drained soil. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It can stand light frosts. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The root tubers are cooked and eaten. The flowers and stems are ground up and cooked.

Edible parts

Tuber, root, flowers, stems

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed or division. It can self seed once established. They can also be grown by transplanting tubers.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Arthropodium laxum Hook.f.; Arthropodium strictum R. Br.; Dichopogon humilis F. Muell.; Dichopogon leimonophilus F. Muell. ex Baker; Dichopogon setosus Kunth;