South Indian squill
Ledebouria revoluta

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a bulb plant. The bulbs are 2.5-7.5 cm long. It grows 20 cm tall. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped. There are 4-8 leaves that can be 15 cm long by 3 cm wide. The flowering shoots can be 3-25 cm long and the flowers are greenish to pink or purple.

Also put in the family Hyacinthaceae.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Botswana, East Africa, India, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa

How it is used for food

It is a significant occasional food in Mozambique.

Edible parts

Bulb

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Lissungunha

Synonyms

Barnardia indica Wight; Drimia acuminata Lodd.; Drimia bifolia (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Schweinf.; Eratobotrys bifolia Hochst. ex A. Rich.; Hyacinthus revolutus L.f.; Lachenalia lanceifolia Jacq.; Ledebouria sikenbergeri (Deflers) Speta; Scilla hyacinthina (Roth) J. F. Macbr.; and many others