Erythronium

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Erythronium is a genus of cormous, spring-flowering, perennials. They have attractive pendant flowers and mottled or unmottled leaves and are hardy. Many are best grown in shade so that the corms don't overheat or dry out.

Related Topics:
Genus - Corm

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The genus consists of +/- 28 species. The species are primarily in temperate North America, with a few species in the Old World. The Old World Species are Erythronium dens canis L, Erythronium sibiricum (Fisch. & C.A.Mey.) Krylov , Erythronium caucasicum Woronow, and Erythronium japonicum.

Related Topics:
North America - Old World

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Erythronium albidum Nutt, Erythronium americanum Ker-Gawl, Erythronium mesochoreum Knerr, Erythronium propullans Gray, Erythronium rostratum W. Wolf, Erythronium umbilicatum Parks & Hardin, are all found East of the Rockies, whilst the remainder are found in the states of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Colorado, and in British Columbia and Alberta in Canada.

Related Topics:
California - Oregon - Washington - Idaho - Utah - Colorado - British Columbia - Alberta - Canada

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Propagation: best by seed in autumn or by division of corms, depending on species. Some species propagate vegetatively, while others don't.

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Uses: the corm is edible as a root vegetable, cooked or dried, and can be ground into flour. The leaves can also be cooked as a leaf vegetable. In Japan, Erythronium japonicum is called katakuri, and the corm is processed to produce starch, which is used for food and other purposes.

Related Topics:
Root vegetable - Flour - Leaf vegetable - Japan - Katakuri - Starch

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