Yunnan cardiocrinum
Cardiocrinum giganteum var. yunnanense
Family: Liliaceae
What it is like
A herb with a bulb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1-3 m high. The main bulb dies after flowering and side bulbs keep growing. It has simple erect stems. They are cylinder shaped and hollow. The leaves are in a ring near the base. They are oval or heart shaped and 30 cm long by 20 cm wide. The leaf stalks are 25 cm long. The flowers are creamy-white with purple veins.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in the mountains of central and western China. It grows along streams at 1,400-1,700 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Myanmar, SE Asia
How it is used for food
Starch is extracted from the bulb.
Edible parts
Bulb - starch, root