Burchardia umbellata

R. Br.

Milkmaids, Star of Bethlehem

Colchicaceae Edible: Tubers, Root 9,494 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Burchardia umbellata, known as milkmaids, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to woodlands and heath of eastern and southern Australia. It is known in all states. It typically flowers from September until November, in dry sclerophyll forests.

Description

A lily which produces white flowers. The plant is 15-50 cm high. It usually has one stem with leaves around it. The leaves are grass-like and hairless. Several of these come from the base then smaller ones are along the stem. The base of the leaves forms a sheath. The roots are fibrous. There are showy clusters of flowers. The flowers have 6 white petals and the ovary in the centre is triangular and pink. The seed pod is wing-shaped and they occur in a group. Under the ground there are a star-like array of 10 cm long thin white tubers.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root Edible Uses: Root - raw or cooked. Starchy but a non-descript flavour. Pleasantly starchy, much like raw potato.

Traditional Uses

The tubers are eaten raw or roasted. They are best cooked.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

A temperate plant. It grows in grasslands and open forests. It is often on sandy coastal areas. It grows on coastal heath areas and on damp ground. It needs well drained site and can grow in full sun or light shade. It can tolerate frost. Tasmanian Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Tasmania*,

Cultivation

Requires a well-drained sandy peat or a peat and loam mix. Requires plenty of moisture in the growing season from late winter to spring but the plant dies down in the summer and should be kept drier at this time. Although the plant tolerates temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens. in the cooler climate of Britain it is not really very hardy. It can, however, be grown outdoors in the summer and be lifted in the autumn and stored in a cool but frost-free place over winter. There is a conflict with this last statement because the plant normally comes into root growth in late winter and flowers in spring. We assume that for storage to work you have to keep the rhizomes fairly dry and cool in storage to prevent early growth. Plants also grow very well in a cool greenhouse where it should be repotted rather loosely in the spring of each year.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this plant but would advise sowing the seed in a warm greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the summer or sowing the stored seed in a greenhouse in the spring. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Notes

There are 2 Burchardia species. The protein content is over 10% dry weight.

Synonyms

Burchardia congesta Lindley

Also Known As

Kara, Popoto

References (33)

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Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 198
Cameron, M., (Ed.) 1981, A Guide to Flowers & Plants of Tasmania. Reed p 88

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