Triteleia hyacinthina
(Lindl.) Greene
Hyacinth brodiaea
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Summary
Source: WikipediaTriteleia hyacinthina is a species of flowering plant known by the common names white brodiaea, white tripletlily, hyacinth brodiaea, and fool's onion. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Idaho to central California. Its habitat includes grassland and vernally moist areas such as meadows and vernal pools. It is a perennial herb growing from a corm. It produces two or three basal leaves up to 40 centimeters (16 in) long by 2 centimeters (0.79 in) wide. The inflorescence arises on an erect stem up to 60 centimeters (24 in) tall and bears an umbel-like cluster of many flowers. Each flower is a funnel-shaped bloom borne on a pedicel up to 5 centimeters (2.0 in) long. The flower is white, often tinged purple along the tubular throat, with six green-veined tepals. There are six stamens with white, yellow, or occasionally blue anthers. The bulb is edible but does not smell like an onion.
Description
An onion family plant. It is a small bulb plant. It grows 45-60 cm high and spreads 20-30 cm wide. The leaves are grass-like. These onion-like leaves often die before flowers appear. The bulbs are dormant for part of the year before re-growing. The flower stems are wiry. They have heads of up to 10 bowl shaped flowers. These are 8 cm wide. They are white or lavender. They are 25 mm wide.
Edible Uses
The starchy bulb can be eaten raw or cooked, used much like potatoes. It is considered an emergency food, relied upon only when other food sources are unavailable.
Traditional Uses
The corms are boiled and mashed.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
None known
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. They need moist, well-drained soils. The soils should never be waterlogged. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.
Where It Grows
Australia, Canada*, North America*, Tasmania, USA,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from the bulbs or corms.
Propagation
Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, or alternatively in spring. Germination typically occurs within 1–3 months at 15°C. Sow thinly to avoid the need for pricking out, and grow seedlings on in the pot for their first year. Give occasional liquid feeds to prevent mineral deficiency. Seedlings are prone to damping off, so avoid overwatering and maintain good ventilation. Once dormant, pot up the small bulbs, placing around 3 per pot, and grow on in a greenhouse for another year or two until bulbs reach about 20mm in diameter. Plant out into permanent positions when dormant in autumn. For division, dig up clumps of flowering-size bulbs in autumn, replanting larger ones directly into permanent positions. Pot up smaller bulbs and grow on in a greenhouse for a year before planting out when dormant in early autumn.
Other Uses
None known
Notes
There are 15 Tritelia species. Also put in the family Alliaceae.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Wild hyacinth
References (6)
- Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994) (As Hesperoscordum hyacinthinum)
- Bull. Calif. Acad. Sci. ser. 2, 6:139. 1886
- Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1432
- Edward's Bot. Reg. 15: sub t. 1293. 1830 (As Hesperoscordum hyacinthinum)
- Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 302
Show all 6 references Hide references
- Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 569
