Grass star-flower
Hypoxis filiformis

Family: Hypoxidaceae

What it is like

A slender erect herb. It grows 40 cm high. It has an underground stem or rhizome. It keeps growing from year to year. The rhizome is almost round and 2-3 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. There are 3-10 leaves. They are grass-like and narrow. They have a brown covering but this falls off. The flowers often appear before the leaves. There are 1-5 flowers and they are up to 1 cm long. The fruit is a capsule 2-3 mm long and wide. There are 8-12 seeds.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in swamps and grassland. It grows from sea level to 2,440 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zululand

How it is used for food

The roots are boiled and eaten.

Edible parts

Roots, corms, bulbs

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Isinongwe

Synonyms

Hyoxis dregei (Baker) Nel; Hypoxis malosana Baker;