Practical
Plants

Hypoxis hygrometrica

Golden Weather Glass

a perennial member of the Hypoxis genus in the family Hypoxidaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Hypoxis
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.15 m
Spread
0.05 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plant contains calcium oxalate crystals and can cause mild irritation to the throat if eaten[1]. Thorough cooking destroys the toxin. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet[4].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Tuber - raw or cooked[1]. A starchy and earthy taste, with an irritant aftertaste[2]. It is probably inadvisable to eat the root raw due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals, though it should be all right cooked.

Plant part
Root

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seeds are hygrometric and can be used in amateur weather forecasting.

Product or use
Weather forecasting

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria.
Habitat
Moist positions in grassland and heath[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division of off-sets in spring or early autumn.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a light freely draining soil in full sun or light shade[3]. Dislikes root disturbance, plants should be placed in their permanent positions as soon as possible[3]. Plants are hardy to about -5°c, succeeding outdoors only in the mildest parts of Britain[3].

References

  1. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-207-14383-8

    ↩

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩

  5. Carolin. R. & Tindale. M. Flora of the Sydney Region Reed. Australia. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0730104001

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