David's lily
Lilium davidii

Family: Liliaceae

What it is like

A bulb plant. It grows 0.9-1.5 m high and spreads 30-45 cm wide. The bulb is flattened and round. It is 2-4.5 cm across. The scales are white. The stem is sometimes tinged with purple and is 50-100 cm high. It is densely hairy. The leaves are scattered but crowded at the middle of the stem. They are narrow and 7-12 cm long by 2-3 mm wide. The flowers can be single or 2-8 together. They are nodding. They are orange with dark purple spots. The fruit is a capsule about 3.5 cm long by 1.6-2 cm wide.

There are about 100 Lilium species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist open forest margins and grassy slopes between 800-3200 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Tasmania

How it is used for food

The bulbs are eaten.

It is widely cultivated in China for its edible bulbs.

Edible parts

Root, bulb

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chuan bai he, Ge luo

Synonyms

Lilium biondii Baroni; and others