Cardiocrinum cordatum

(Thunb.) Makino

Liliaceae Edible: Leaves, Roots, Stem, Bulbs, Vegetable 687 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Cardiocrinum cordatum, known as turep in the Ainu languages, is a Northeast Asian species of plant in the lily family. It is native to Japan and to certain Russian islands in the Sea of Okhotsk (Sakhalin, Kuril Islands). Because of its large, showy flowers, Cardiocrinum cordatum is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental in regions outside its native range, though not as frequently as the related C. giganteum. The Ainu, a group indigenous to Hokkaido, harvested the bulbs. Starch was extracted and used to create a form of dumpling, a staple of Ainu cuisine. The plant has reportedly become naturalized in the State of Maryland, in the eastern United States.

Description

A bulb plant. The bulb dies after flowering and plants re-grow from side shoots. The leaves are heart shaped. The flower stems are tall. The flowers are trumpet shaped.

Edible Uses

An edible starch can be obtained from the bulb. Young leaves can be eaten cooked, though harvesting them will considerably weaken the plant and is not recommended under normal circumstances.

Traditional Uses

The starchy bulbs are cooked and eaten. They are added to soup.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Known Hazards

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It needs fertile, moist, humus rich and well-drained soil. It can grow in bright shade.

Where It Grows

Asia, Himalayas, Japan, North America,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from fresh seed of offsets.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame in autumn. The plant has delayed epigeal germination and may sprout in spring but can take up to two years, especially from stored seed. Alternatively, mix seed with moist leafmould, seal in a plastic bag, and keep at 20°C for three weeks; pot up any seed that germinates, then place the remainder in a fridge at 3–5°C for 4–5 weeks before sowing in a warm spot. Grow seedlings on in pots in a shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse for 3–4 years before planting out permanently. Bulblets can be taken from the base of the old plant after flowering; pot these up and plant out once well established.

Other Uses

None known.

Production

Small corms can flower in 3-4 years while seeds take 5-7 years.

Other Information

It is a cultivated food plant.

Notes

There are 3 Cardiocrinum species.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Roots - fermented	11.2	1	351	3	—	—	—	—
Roots - powder	17.8	1	330	0.1	—	—	0.2	—
Roots	75.6	399	95.4	1.4	—	—	0.5	—
Leaves	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Synonyms

Lilium cordatum (Thunb.) Koidz. & Airy ShawLilium cordifolium Thunb.Lilium glehnii F. Schmidt

Also Known As

Turep

References (8)

Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 26, 105 (As Lilium cordifolium)
Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 27:124. 1913
Chen, B. & Qiu, Z., Consumer's Attitudes towards Edible Wild Plants, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. p 22 www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfr/aip/872413.pdf
Kays, S. J., and Dias, J. C. S., 1995, Common Names of Commercially Cultivated Vegetables of the World in 15 languages. Economic Botany, Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 115-152 (As Lilium cordifolium)
Kuhnlein, H. V., et al, 2009, Indigenous Peoples' food systems. FAO Rome p 148 (As Lilium cordifolium)

Show all 8 references

Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Turner, N. J. et al, 2011, Edible and Tended Wild Plants, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Agroecology. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 30:198-225 (As Lilium cordatum)
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew