Pale vanilla lily
Arthropodium milleflorum

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A tufted lily which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 30-50 cm high and spreads 30 cm wide. The roots are fibrous. Some of the roots are fleshy and like tubers. They can be 4 cm long and 1 cm across. They are 4-10 cm below the ground. The leaves are 30 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. They are in dense tufts and can be grey. They are strap like. The flower stems are 50-100 cm long. The flowers are 2 cm across. The flower stalks are 1.5 cm long and they occur in twos or threes. They are on a leafless branched flower stem. The flowers are pale lilac or mauve. The flowers are star shaped and long stiffly spreading stalks. The stamens are densely white and hairy.

There are 12 Arthropodium species. Also put in the family Laxmanniaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It suits moist well drained soils. It grows in hilly and often rocky places. They grow in dry forest and woodlands. It suits light shade but can grow in full sun. It can tolerate frost. Hobart Botanical Gardens. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The slender white tubers are eaten. They can be eaten raw or cooked.

Edible parts

Tuber, root, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by division.

It is hard to locate the tubers after the flowering plant dies back.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Arthropodium millefoliatum; Arthropodium paniculatum (Haw.) R. Br.; Arthropodium pendulum (Hornem.) DC;