Cardiocrinum giganteum

Cardiocrinum giganteum

Cardiocrinum giganteum is the highest growing species from the genus of giant lilies ( Cardiocrinum ). From the tuber of the plant is obtained in China starch, which serves as a food.

Description

Cardiocrinum giganteum is a perennial, herbaceous plant that is between one and three meters high. The egg-shaped bulb is 3.5 to 4 centimeters high, 1.2 to 2 inches wide and is formed from the thickened approaches the leaf stalk of the soil-borne leaves. The main bulb dies after fruiting of the plant from the bulblets new plants.

The upright shoot is simply built, in cross-section cylindrical, hollow and forms above the onion no other roots. The leaves are at 25 cm long stems in a basal rosette or stem- ever, are ovate - cordate, up to 30 cm long and up to 20 cm wide. The leaf tip is pointed, leaf margin entire, leaf area is traversed by a net-like Venatur.

The fragrant flowers are creamy - white with red - purple veins means. They are in terminal bunches bracts are leaves- leaf-like, oblong, 7 cm long, 2 to 2.5 cm wide. The flowers sheath is funnel-shaped, is made of six segments, each of 15 to 17 cm long. The six stamens are 8 cm long, the stamens are uneven, the free anthers are bent outward. The ovary is oblong, 3 cm long, the pen is 6 cm long. The fruit is 4 cm long, oblong capsules having a diameter of 3 to 3.5 cm. They open fachspaltig with serrated flaps that contain a high number of flat, crescent-shaped, winged seeds.

Occurrence

The species is widely distributed in the central and western China, where it grows in forests along watercourses at elevations from 1400 to 1700 meters.

System

Differences are often two varieties:

  • Cardiocrinum giganteum var giganteum: Stem pale green, tinged with the outside of the bracts green, growth height 1.50 to 3 feet. In the Himalayas space (Tibet, Bhutan, Northeast India, Myanmar, Nepal).
  • Cardiocrinum giganteum var yunnanense ( Leichtlin ex Elwes ) Stearn ( Syn: Cardiocrinum mirabile ( Franch. ) Makino ): Stem dark green, the outside of the pure white bloom, plant height only 1 to 2 meters. Only in China and Myanmar.

Use

In central and western China, the bulbs of locals are collected and processed into starch, which comes into the kitchen to use.

Evidence

  • Shiu -ying Hu: Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press, Hong Kong, 2005. ISBN 962-201-860-2.
  • Flora of China, vol 24, p 134 online
  • Stephen Haw: The Lilies of China: The Genera Lilium, Cardiocrinum, Nomocharis and Notholirion, pp. 133-135, 1986, ISBN 0-8819-2034-7
  • Walter Erhardt et al: The big walleye. Encyclopedia of plant names. Volume 2 Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart, 2008. ISBN 978-3-8001-5406-7
  • Lily plants
  • Liliaceae
Lilioideae Ovary (botany)
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