Eremurus himalaicus

Baker

Himalayan desert candle, Foxtail lily

Asphodelaceae Edible: Leaves, Flowers 18 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Eremurus himalaicus, the Himalayan foxtail lily or white-flowered foxtail lily, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae. It is native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the western Himalayas. It is useful in the garden as a tall accent plant, as its flower spike can reach from 6 ft (2 m) to 8 ft (2.5 m).

Description

A clumping herb. It grows 90-120 cm high and spreads 75 cm wide. The leaves are strap shaped. The flower spikes are 3 m tall. The flowers are in dense heads. They are lily like and white and star shaped. The stamens protrude.

Edible Uses

The leaves are cooked and used as a vegetable, and young flower buds are eaten.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are cooked and used as a vegetable. The young flower buds are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. They grow in dry areas. In the Himalayas it grows up to 3,900 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Asia, Australia, Central Asia, Himalayas, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown by seed of division of the clump. Care needs to be taken not to damage the roots.

Notes

There are about 50 Eremurus species. It has also been put in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae.

Synonyms

Eremurus aitchisonii Baker

Also Known As

Chem, Macho, Pret, Shella, Yamkand

References (9)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 200
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 546
Flora of Pakistan.
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 94
Khan, A. H., et al, 2023, Traditional foraging for ecological transition? Wild food ethnobotany among three ethnic groups in the highlands of the eastern Hindukush, North Pakistan. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 19:9

Show all 9 references

Kishor, A., et al, 2018, Wild Food Plants of Himachal Pradesh: A Review. Plant Archives Vol. 18 No.2 pp. 2737-2751
J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 15:283. 1876
Sharma, L. et al, 2018, Diversity, distribution pattern, endemism and indigenous uses of wild edible plants in Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve of Indian Trans Himalaya. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. Vol 17(1) January 2018 pp 122-131
Singh, H.B., Arora R.K.,1978, Wild edible Plants of India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. p 25