Medicinal Uses

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves  Root  Shoots | Edible Uses: Leaves and young shoots - cooked[205]. They must be consumed when very young or else they become fibrous[K]. Flowers and flower buds - raw or cooked[177]. The tubular flowers are about 5cm long and 7.5cm in diameter[205]. The flower buds contain about 43mg vitamin C per 100g, 983 IU vitamin A and 3.1% protein[205]. Root - raw or cooked[205]. The taste is somewhat like radishes but not so sharp[205].

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils[1], including dry ones, preferring a rich moist soil[205]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in short grass if the soil is moist[1]. Succeeding in sun or shade, it produces more flowers in a sunny position though these flowers can be shorter-lived in very sunny positions[205]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[200]. According to the Flora of China, this species is no more than a synonym for H. citrina[266]. It is, however, seen as a distinct species in other treatments and so is maintained here as a separate species[K]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200]. The plant forms pseudobulbs, these stand vertically in the ground[205]. Individual flowers are very short-lived, they open in the late afternoon and fade in the following morning[205]. Plants take a year or two to become established after being moved[1]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. The plants are very susceptible to slug and snail damage, the young growth in spring is especially at risk[200].

Known Hazards

Large quantities of the leaves are said to be hallucinogenic. Blanching the leaves removes this hallucinatory component[205]. (This report does not make clear what it means by blanching, it could be excluding light from the growing shoots or immersing in boiling water[K].)

Habitats

Forest margins, grassy fields and slopes along valleys, from near sea level to 2000 metres[266].