Tricyrtis macropoda

Miq.

Liliaceae Edible: Leaves 510 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Tricyrtis macropoda is an East Asian plant species in the lily family native to China, Korea, and Japan.

Description

A herb with a rhizome or underground stem. It keeps growing from year to year. The stem is 1 m high. The stems are erect. The leaves are oval and 8-16 cm long by 6-10 cm wide. They are pale green and clasp the stem. The leaves curl at the tip. There are several flowers at the ends of stems. The flowers are greenish-white with purple-red spots. The fruit is a capsule 2-3 cm across.

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoots are edible when cooked.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in forests, rocky ledges and grassy slopes between 800-2400 m altitude in China. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China*, Japan, Korea, Tasmania,

Cultivation

Prefers a humus-rich fertile well-drained but moisture-retentive acid or neutral light sandy loam in partial shade. Prefers the dappled shade of a woodland garden but tolerates full sun if the soil is reliably moist throughout the growing season, flowering earlier in such a position. Plants require a sunnier position when growing in northern Britain. This species is hardy to about -20°c, but if prolonged cold weather is not accompanied by snow cover the plants will appreciate a good mulch of organic matter. A very ornamental plant. Plants are very susceptible to attacks by slugs.

Propagation

Seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed requires 12 weeks of stratification at 5°C. Once large enough to handle, prick seedlings out into individual pots and grow on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out into permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division can be done just before growth begins in spring, splitting to single crowns. Larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions; smaller divisions are best potted up and grown on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until growing well, then planted out in summer or the following spring.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Notes

There are about 16 Tricyrtis species. Also put in the family Convallariaceae.

Synonyms

Tricyrtis dilatata

Also Known As

Huangguacai, You dian cao

References (8)

Chen Xinqi, Liang Songyun, Xu Jiemei, Tamura M.N., Liliaceae. Flora of China. p 81
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1429
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 301
Kang, Y., et al, 2012, Wild food plants and wild edible fungi in two valleys on the Qinling Mountains (Shaanxi, central China) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine; 9:26
Lee, Y. M., 2014, Important Plants of East Asia II: Endemic Plant Stories. East Asia Biodiversity Conservation Network p 98

Show all 8 references

Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Slocum, P.D. & Robinson, P., 1999, Water Gardening. Water Lilies and Lotuses. Timber Press. p 137
Verslagen Meded. Aft. Natuurk. Kon. Akad. Wetensch. ser. 2, 2:86. 1869