False Solomon's seal, Himalayan mayflower
Maianthemum purpureum

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It is about 60 cm high. The rootstock is stout and creeping. The rhizomes or underground stems and undivided. They are 1-1.5 cm thick. The leaves do not have leaf stalks. They are 5-12 cm long. The leaves are broadly oval and taper to the tip. They have hairs along the edge. They are hairy underneath. The flowers are deep brown. Sometimes they are white tinged with purple. They occur as many flowers along stalks at the ends of branches. The fruit is a berry. It is red at maturity and 6-7 mm across. There are 1-4 seeds.

There are 35 Maianthemum species. Also put in the families Malvaceae, Convallariaceae and Liliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in forests and thickets between 3,200-4,000 m above sea level in SW China. In Nepal they grow between 2600-4200 m altitude. They grow in dense forests. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Northeastern India, Sikkim, Tibet

How it is used for food

The tender leaves and shoots are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are used in stir fries and added to soups.

Leaves are commonly eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, shoots

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or root offshoots.

Its other names

Local names

Khhiringlo, Khirro, Lekh daro, Narpunta, Nibai, Rupka, Sikaaree saag, Sikari sag, Wangril, Yoh, Zhuyecai, Zi hua lu yao

Synonyms

Smilacina purpurea Wall.; Jocaste purpurea (Wall.) Kunth.; Smilacina oligophylla (Baker)J.D.Hooker; Tovaria purpurea (Wall.) Baker; Tovaria oligophylla Baker; Tovaria pallida (Royle) Baker; Smilacina pallida Royle; Smilacina purpurea f. albiflora (Wallich) H.Hara; Smilacina purpurea var. albiflora Wallich; Smilacina purpurea f. oligophylla (Baker) H.Hara; Smilacina zhongdianensis H.Li & Y.Chen;