Herb latin name: Lilium formosanum


Synonyms: Lilium longiflorum formosanum, Lilium philippinense formosanum


Family: Liliaceae (Lily Family)



Edible parts of Lilium formosanum:

Bulb - cooked. The bulb can be up to 4cm in diameter. Rich in starch, it can be used as a vegetable in similar ways to potatoes (Solanum tuberosum).

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Bulb


Height:
100 cm
(3 1/4 foot)

Flowering:
August to
October

Scent:
Scented
Bulb

Habitat of the herb:

Seashores and open grassland in sandy or volcanic soils from sea level to 3500 metres.

Propagation of Lilium formosanum:

Seed - immediate epigeal germination. Sow thinly in pots from late winter to early spring in a cold frame. Should germinate in 2 - 4 weeks. Great care should be taken in pricking out the young seedlings, many people prefer to leave them in the seed pot until they die down at the end of their second years growth. This necessitates sowing the seed thinly and using a reasonably fertile sowing medium. The plants will also require regular feeding when in growth. This species can flower within a year from seed, especially if sown in the early autumn. Division with care in the autumn once the leaves have died down. Replant immediately. Bulb scales can be removed from the bulbs in early autumn. If they are kept in a warm dark place in a bag of moist peat, they will produce bulblets. These bulblets can be potted up and grown on in the greenhouse until they are large enough to plant out.

Cultivation of the herb:

Seashores and open grassland in sandy or volcanic soils from sea level to 3500 metres.

Medicinal use of Lilium formosanum:

None known

Known hazards of Lilium formosanum:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.