Native leek, Golden lily, Golden bulbine-lily
Bulbine bulbosa

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

What it is like

A lily plant. It is a herb which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 45 cm high and spreads 30 cm across. It has a bulb shaped tuber. The leaves are onion like. There are 3-10 leaves up to 25 cm long. The flowers occur in a yellow spike. The flower spikes can be 60 cm tall and each flower 3 cm across. The fruit is about 5 mm across. It contains many black seeds.

There are 30 Bulbine species. Possibly also Bulbine glauca See Gilfedder, L et al, 2003, The Nature of the Midlands. Midlands Bushweb. PO Box 156 Longford, Tasmania. p 89. It had been put in the Liliaceae. Also put in the family Asphodelaceae.

Where it is found

It grows in temperate places but can also grow in warmer places. It grows in rocky places. It needs well drained soil. It can grow in full sunlight or in part shade. It can stand heavy frosts.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The corm or bulb is cooked and eaten. It is roasted.

It can be a significant food.

Edible parts

Corm, bulb, root

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed. They can also be grown by division of the clump.

Its other names

Local names

Bulbine Lily, Parm, Pike, Puewan, Wild Onion

Synonyms

Anthericum bulbosum R. Br.; Anthericum semibarbartum Hook. ; Bulbine australis Sprengel; Bulbine fraseri Kunth.; Bulbinopsis bulbosa (R.Br.) Borzi.; Phalangium bulbosum (R. Br.) Kuntze;