Onion grass, Onion weed, Guildford grass
Romulea rosea
Family: Iridaceae
What it is like
A small herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It arises from a bulb under the ground. The leaves are narrow and linear. They are 30 cm long and grooved. They are like grass. They are very tough. They have a thickened edge and midrib. The base of the leaves sheaths the stem underground. There are up to 4 flowers from each corm. They are on a leaf free stem. The flowers are pink. They are like stars. They are supported by an unequal pair of sword shaped bracts. The fruit is a capsule with 3 sections. It has broad wrinkles. There are 10-30 seeds. The capsule opens widely into 3 blunt leathery lobes.
There are about 90 Romulea species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in pasture.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Australia, South Africa, Southern Africa, St Helena, Tasmania
How it is used for food
CAUTION: The plants have caused infertility and abortion in cattle. The young green fleshy fruit are eaten.
The fruit are eaten especially by children.
Edible parts
Pods, fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Froetang, Frutangs, Knikkers