Herb: Murray Lily


Latin name: Crinum flaccidum


Family: Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis Family)



Edible parts of Murray Lily:

Root - cooked. Rich in starch, it is a source of arrowroot.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Bulb


Height:
60 cm
(2 feet)

Flowering:
July

Habitat of the herb:

Sandy inundated flats of river flood plains.

Propagation of Murray Lily:

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, placing 2 - 3 seeds in individual pots in a greenhouse. Do not cover the seed. Sow stored seed April/May in a warm greenhouse. Once they have germinated, you can thin each pot to just one plant if required, though we have not found this to be necessary. Give an occasional liquid feed to ensure that the plants do not suffer nutritional deficiencies. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first 2 years, planting them out into their permanent positions in the spring. Division of offsets in April/May or in September. When divided in the spring, the bulbs can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, if done in September, however, they should be potted up and overwintered in the greenhouse.

Cultivation of the herb:

Sandy inundated flats of river flood plains.

Medicinal use of Murray Lily:

None known

Known hazards of Crinum flaccidum:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.