Creeping Lily-turf, Cereal-leaved mountain winter wheat
Liriope graminifolia

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 15-40 cm high. The roots can have fleshy tubers near the tip. It has creeping stolons or runners. These are slender. The leaves are narrow. They are 60 cm long by 2-3 mm wide. They are grass-like. They have 5 veins. The base is surrounded by many sheaths. The flowering stalk is 6-15 cm long. There are many flowers. Flowers are white or purplish. The seeds are blue. They are oval and 4-5 mm across.

There are 5 or 6 Liriope species. They are in eastern Asia. Also put in the family Convallariaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in forests and shady places along valleys and rocky places from near sea level to 2300 m altitude in China. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Himalayas, Indochina, Japan, Pakistan, Taiwan

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Root, tuber

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

He ye shan mai dong, Mai Dong

Synonyms

Asparagus graminifolia L.; Dracaena graminifolia (L.) L.; Liriope angustissima Ohwi; Liriope crassiuscula Ohwi; Mondo graminifolium (L.) Koidzumi;