Xi man xuan cao
Hemerocallis forrestii
Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows 40-70 cm high. The roots are slightly fleshy with large swollen tubers near the tip. These can be 1.5-2.5 cm long by 3.5-4.5 cm wide. The leaves are narrow. They are 30-70 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The base is surrounded by the fibrous base of older leaves. The flowering stalk has 4-6 branches each with a double flower group of 2-4 flowers. The flowers are small and open during the day. They are orange or yellow. The fruit is a capsule. It is oval and 3.8 cm long by 1.5-2 cm wide.
There are about 15 Hemerocallis species. Also put in the family Hemerocallidaceae.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in forests and on grassy slopes and limestone cliffs between 2300-3200 m altitude in SW China. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, root