Asphodelus fistulosus
| Asphodelus fistulosus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Asphodelus fistulosus (common name: onionweed)
Propagation: Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[1]. 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. When the plants are large enough to handle, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer.
Division in early spring or autumn[2].
Cultivation: Succeeds in ordinary garden soil, tolerating partial shade[3]. Requires a well-drained soil. Prefers a deep rich sandy loamy soil[4][5]. Prefers a sunny position in a soil that is not too rich[3]. Grows well on hot dry banks[5].
This species is a perennial, though it is not very hardy in Britain. This has contributed to the mistaken belief that it is an annual. A covering of bracken overwinter is usually ample protection in most districts[5].
The flowers are sweetly scented[6].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[7].
Range: S. Europe - Mediterranean. W. Asia.
Habitat: Dry sandy or rocky places[8] in fields, track-sides and uncultivated ground[9].
Edibility: Root - cooked.[10][11][12] The root is fibrous according to one report[13] whilst another says that the swollen root has radical root fibres[5].
The plant is eaten as a vegetable, records of 'edible bulbs' seem to be erroneous[14].
Medicinal: The seed is diuretic[15]. It is also applied externally to ulcers and inflamed parts of the body[15]. The seed contains oils rich in linoleic acid and are of value in preventing atherosclerosis[15].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: A. tenuifolius. Cav.
Links
References
- ↑ Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ Sanders, Thomas. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge, 1926.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Grey, Charles. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate, 1938.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.