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 flower buds contain about 43mg vitamin C per 100g, 983 IU vitamin A and 3.1% protein[205]. Root - raw or cooked. A radish-like flavour, but not so sharp[205]. The roots are slightly fleshy, with a large, oblong, swollen, tuberous part near the tip[266].

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils[1], including dry ones, preferring a rich moist soil and a sunny position but tolerating partial shade. Plants flower less freely in a shady position though the flowers can last longer in such a position[205]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in short grass if the soil is moist[1]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[200]. The string-like roots have spindle-shaped swellings near their ends[205]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200]. This species is closely related to H. multiflora, differing mainly in height, number of flowers on a scape and the folding of the leaves[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

Sub-alpine woods and alpine meadows[205]. Pinus forests, forest margins, thinly forested hilltops and grassy slopes at elevations of 1500 - 3200 metres in Sichuan and Yunnan[266].