Zhe ye xuan cao
Hemerocallis plicata
Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows 40-80 cm high. The roots are slightly fleshy with large swollen tubers near the tip. These are 0.8-1.5 cm long and 2.5-5 cm wide. The leaves are narrow and 45-50 cm long by 6-8 mm wide. They are usually folded and the base is surrounded by the fibrous remains of older leaves. The flowering stalk has 3-7 branches with groups of 2-3 flowers and one with 2-20 flowers. The flowers are small and open during the day. They are orange.
There are about 15 Hemerocallis species. Also put in the family Hemerocallidaceae.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in pine forest and on thinly forested hilltops between 1500-3200 m altitude in S China. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Tibet
How it is used for food
The young leaves are cooked in soup.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, root
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Si-lis-tsangs-spa