Practical
Plants

Liriope graminifolia

a perennial evergreen member of the Liriope genus in the family Convallariaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Liriope
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

Root - cooked[2][3][4]. Candied and used medicinally[9]. The root has a fleshy, tuberous part near its tip[7]. Rich in mucilage, the root also contains about 1.6% protein, 0.5% fat, 80% carbohydrate and 2.3% ash[4].

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 root is aphrodisiac, pectoral and stimulant[9].

Product or use
Aphrodisiac
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Stimulant

Material uses

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

A good drought tolerant evergreen ground cover plant[5].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat
Lowland and foothills all over Japan[8]. Forests, thickets, shady places along ravines, grassy and rocky places from near sea level to 2300 metres[7]..
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing it in a cold frame or greenhouse as soon as the seed is ripe if possible, if not then sowing the stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. 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 in spring. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a sandy soil[1]. Succeeds in full sun so long as the soil does not dry out in the summer, otherwise it should be grown in partial shade in any moderately fertile well-drained soil[5]. Not very hardy in Britain, it is best to give the plants some protection in the winter[1]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[6]. Most plants grown under this name in British gardens are actually L. muscari[5]. The Flora of Japan treats L. graminifolia as two separate species, L. minor. (Maxim.)Makino. and L. platyphylla. F.T.Wang.&Tang. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening recognizes L. graminifolia as a distinct species and gives L. platyphylla as a synonym of L. muscari whilst allotting specific status to L. minor as a plant closely related to L. muscari. This is the treatment followed here.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  7. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2

  8. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

  9. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page