Wild onion, Poison onion
Dipcadi glaucum

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

An erect plant with a bulb. The bulb is oval and 3-6 cm across. The leaves occur as 6-9 leaves in a rose shaped arrangement. They are smooth and shiny and like a narrow sword. The flowers are in a loose cluster around a central stem. The individual flowers are yellowish green and with a long stalk. The fruit are round capsules. Inside are flat black shiny seeds. These are 8 mm across.

They have also been put in the families Hyacinthaceae and Liliaceae.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid areas with a marked dry season. It grows over limestone material It grows in stony and sandy soils. It grows between 440-1,675 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: Some closely related Dipcadi are used as rat poison. The onion like bulb is eaten after roasting. Caution: It is considered poisonous. The young leaves are eaten raw.

An important food of the Bushmen.

Edible parts

Leaves, bulb

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Govo, Igwashe

Synonyms

Dipcadi gracilipes K. Krause; Dipcadi longibracteatum Schinz; Dipcadi magnum Baker; Lachenalia speciosa F. Dietr.; Uropetalon glaucum Burch. ex Ker Gawl.;