Zhe Bei Mu
Fritillaria thunbergii

Family: Liliaceae

What it is like

A bulb plant. The bulb has 2 or 3 scales. It is oval and 1-3 cm across. The stem is 15-80 cm high. There are 12-20 leaves which are alternate or in rings. The leaf blade is long and narrow. It is 7-11 cm long by 1-2.5 cm wide. There are 1-6 flowers in the flower arrangement. The flowers are nodding. They are yellow sometimes tinged with purple. The fruit is a capsule with broad wings. The wings are 6-8 mm wide.

There are about 100 Fritillaria species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in bamboo forests and shady moist places from near sea level to 600 m in China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Tibet

How it is used for food

Caution: It is dangerous in large amounts. It is mostly used in medicine. The young plants and flower buds are used as potherbs. The bulbs are fried and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, root, caution, flowers, bulbs

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Uvularia cirrhosa Thunb.; and others