edible bulbs
Oyster Einstein
My love of growing food and my more recent obsession with growing
flowers seem to be coinciding. Several bulbs appear to be traditional
indigenous foods. But just as I wouldn't want to pick and eat a
mushroom without being pretty darn sure, I have a couple edible bulb
qustions:
* Camassia. I don't have the latin in front of me, but I
beleive it's Camassia esculenta that is edible. Correct? I have
ordered some Camassia scilloides (sp?) from Fedco in Maine, they were
listed as a traditional native food and I would like to be sure, are
both varieties edible?
*Lilies. Anyone know which kinds are edible, or perhaps more
important, if any kinds are not?
*Any others you know of/recommend/have tasted? They don't have
to be bulbs, I just get excited about obscure edible plants...
-Angela
cyli
I believe all true lillies bulbs are edible. All day lilly roots (and
all the other parts of day lillies, too) are edible. You'll want to
check on this more thorougly, though. Your state Department of
Agriculture should be able to give you a more informed opinion. For the
rest of the plants called lillies, I have no idea. Again Ag Dept can
help. Don't eat anything* on the word of someone who's not A: an expert
and B: hasn't seen the plant in question. You might be calling a plant
by a name that's safe because it's common knowledge where you live, but
its real name can be something else and that not a bit safe. Can be a
bit tricky. Not as bad as with mushrooms, but wouldn't you hate to make
your family sick or dead?
--
"If I die of curiousity, who will entertain you with naive questions?"
I only answer my mail on an average of once every two months. Be
patient.
CEL
> * Camassia. I don't have the latin in front of me, but I
> > beleive it's Camassia esculenta that is edible. Correct? I have
> > ordered some Camassia scilloides (sp?) from Fedco in Maine, they were
> > listed as a traditional native food and I would like to be sure, are
> > both varieties edible?
Various Camas lilies are edible (but you should check precisely which
ones, as I think that there is one that isn't).
Mariposa tulips (sego lilies) are edible (and, I believe, most tulips).
However:
Pleas make sure that these plants were propogated by the nursuries from
which you buy. Many of these plants are endangered. They should not be
collected from the wild. You also should be absolutely sure that they are
what you think they are. That means. Do not take the nursery's word for
it, on what they are sending you. Grow them yourself, then identify them.
CEL
--
Zone 5/6 (sometimes even 7), intermountain region, Western USA
What this means is dry, with extremes in temp!
"This is a professional. Do not try this in your own home."