Tulipa edulis

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.

Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, the bulbs and the flowers of at least one member of this genus have been known to cause dermatitis in sensitive people, though up to 5 bulbs a day of that species can be eaten without ill-effect^[12].

Bulb - cooked^[7]^[2]. A source of starch^[9]^[11]. The bulb can be up to 4cm in diameter^[8]. Leaves - cooked^[9]^[11]^[2]. Unless you have more plants than you need this practise is not recommended since it will greatly weaken the plant[K].

Plant part: Leaves

Plant part: Root

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.

The inner portion of the bulb is antidote, antipyretic, depurative, expectorant, febrifuge and laxative^[3]^[6]. It is used, mainly as a poultice, in the treatment of ulcers and abscesses^[3]. The plant has been used in the treatment of cancer^[6]. The leaves are applied externally to abscesses, buboes and breast diseases^[6]. The flowers are used in the treatment of dysuria^[6].

Product or use: Antidote

Product or use: Cancer

Product or use: Febrifuge

Product or use: Laxative

Environment

Range

E. Asia - E. China, S. Japan, Korea, Manchuria.

Habitat

Moist places in meadows in lowlands^[10]^[4], near rivers and on wooded hillsides^[13]. Grassy slopes and hillsides from near sea level to 1700 metres in China^[8].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 7+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a shady part of the cold frame as soon as it is ripe in early summer^[1], or in the early autumn^[5]. A spring sowing of stored seed in the greenhouse also succeeds[K]. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be grown on without disturbance for their first growing season - apply liquid feeds to the pot if necessary. Divide the bulbs once the plants have become dormant, putting 3 - 4 bulbs in each pot. Grow the on in the greenhouse for at least the next year, planting them out when dormant. Division of offsets in July. Larger bulbs can be planted out straight into their permanent positions, or can be stored in a cool place and then be planted out in late autumn. It is best to pot up smaller bulbs and grow them on in a cold frame for a year before planting them out when they are dormant in late summer to the middle of autumn.

Cultivation

Easily grown in a well-drained soil in a sunny position^[1]^[13]. This species is not fully hardy in Britain, the plants come into growth in the winter and need protection from severe weather and so are best grown in a bulb frame^[1]. Plants are dormant in summer but do not require protection from rain^[13]. Bulbs can be harvested in June after they have died down and then stored in a cool dry place, being planted out again in October.

References

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

↩1 ↩2 ↩3

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

↩1 ↩2

? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

↩1 ↩2

Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

↩

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

↩

Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4