Gardening with Indigenous Plants
Indigenous Plant Use
Identification & Control of Common Weeds
| Botanical Name: | Burchardia umbellata |
| Common Name: | milkmaids, popoto, star-of- bethlehem |
| Sold As: | Tube ($2.00) |
| Plant Type(s): | Lily, Ground Cover (up to 30 cm), Indigenous Plant Use |
| Indigenous Plant Use: | Tubers can be roasted or eaten raw. The potato like tuber are white, fleshy, crisp, and starchy, with a nondescript flavor.CAUTION: Many plants are poisonous if not collected and prepared properly! |
| Growing Conditions: | Full Sun, Partial Shade
Moist, Wet, Well Drained |
| Size (HxW): | 50 cm high |
| Foliage: | 1-2 narrow, fleshy channelled basal leaves 10-30 cm x 3-6 mm. Leaf-like bracts on flowering stem. |
| Flowers: | Terminal cluster of 2-9 honey-scented (white often pink on outside) flowers to 30 mm wide. Anthers pink or purple. Erect triangular seed capsules remain on plant after seed shed. September-December |
| General Comments: | Perennial herb with a corm and tuberous roots. Plant dies down after flowering in summer. Attractive little plant for drifts amongst trees with a light canopy, in rockeries or in containers. |
 Further Information: | |
| Plant Propagation: | Plants can be propagated from seed which does not require pre-treatment for successful germination. The fruit is a capsule and needs to be monitored closely as mature seeds shed within 3-14 days. Collect capsules by hand when red-brown and brittle, mature seed should be dark brown and hard. Dry seed capsules in paper bags and thresh lightly when capsules have opened. |
