Lilium japonicum platyfolium
Bamboo Lily
a member of the Lilium genus in the family Liliaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Bulb - cooked[8][10][2]. It contains about 18% starch[6]. A slightly bitter taste[6]. It can be used as a vegetable in similar ways to potatoes(Solanum tuberosum).
- Plant part
- Root
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The bulb is antiasthmatic, antitussive, expectorant, sedative and tonic (nutritive)[6][7]. It is used in the treatment of coughs, haemoptysis, insomnia and fidgetiness in the later stage of febrile disease[7].
- Product or use
- Antiasthmatic
- Product or use
- Antitussive
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Nutritive
- Product or use
- Sedative
- Product or use
- Tonic
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Japan.
- Habitat
- Thickets on hills and low mountains[13] in rich loose woodland soil, often amongst dwarf bamboo, 300 - 900 metres[4].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - delayed hypogeal germination[3]. Best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame, it should germinate in spring[4]. Stored seed will require a warm/cold/warm cycle of stratification, each period being about 2 months long[5]. Grow on in cool shady conditions. Great care should be taken in pricking out the young seedlings, many people leave them in the seed pot until they die down at the end of their second years growth. This necessitates sowing the seed thinly and using a reasonably fertile sowing medium. The plants will also require regular feeding when in growth. Divide the young bulbs when they are dormant, putting 2 - 3 in each pot, and grow them on for at least another year before planting them out into their permanent positions when the plants are dormant[K]. Division with care in the autumn once the leaves have died down. Replant immediately[9]. Bulb scales can be removed from the bulbs in early autumn. If they are kept in a warm dark place in a bag of moist peat, they will produce bulblets. These bulblets can be potted up and grown on in the greenhouse until they are large enough to plant out[9].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers an open free-draining humus-rich loamy soil with its roots in the shade and its head in the sun[9]. Grows well in open woodland[1]. Likes plenty of moisture and some shade[11][12]. Just to totally confuse matters, one report says that this species prefers a poor gravelly loam with plenty of leafmold and some charcoal, in a sunny position[4]. Requires protection from winter rains[4]. This sub-species is more vigorous than the type and has broader leaves. Stem rooting, the bulbs should be planted 15 - 20cm deep[4]. Early to mid autumn is the best time to plant out the bulbs in cool temperate areas, in warmer areas they can be planted out as late as late autumn[9]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is cultivated for its bulb in Japan[8] and is also a sacred flower in Japanese Shinto rites[6]. The plant should be protected against rabbits and slugs in early spring. If the shoot tip is eaten out the bulb will not grow in that year and will lose vigour[9].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
? The Plantsman. Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society 1982-00-00
Woodcock. and Coutts. Lilies - Their Culture and Management. Country Life 1935-00-00
RHS Lily Group. Lilies and Related Plants.
Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00
Fox. D. Growing Lilies. Croom Helm 1985-00-00
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00