The Orange Flower From Asia

Day-Lily (Hemerocallis fulva )

Now I have to say this right off the bat, I don’t encourage the use of wild plants in our diets. Simply because it’s quite to easy to confuse some edible plants with poisonous plants. Not only that, but it’s possible to have allergic reactions to these plants. Now with that being said, I want to jump right into this post.

Daylilies aren’t just for the flower garden. These plants can provide for a different vegetable in our meals. The edible portions of the daylily plant include the flower buds, young shoots, the flowers, and the young tubers. The tubers when young can be eaten raw, but the older tubers should be boiled to first. The flower buds must be boiled first, otherwise they can cause throat irritation. When simply boiled, you can use them like you would green beans or asparagus. I’ve read that their taste is something like lettuce. I can’t speak from experience on this one. The flowers can be eaten raw, battered and deep fried, or added to soups. You can also dry the flowers and the buds for later use.

Daylily oringinally come from Southern Europe and Asia. The plant like many of the plants , that I’ve featured have both edible uses and medicinal uses. Be forewarned, this information is purely for information uses. It is not given as a suggestion. You should never treat any ailment with native plants. The tubers and roots are used to make a tea which is given for urinary tract health and nosebleeds. In China, Daylily is used as a folk remedy for breast cancer. The flowers have been used as a poultice for piles.

Now just a two real quick warnings on daylilies. First, roots and young leaves are potentially toxic. A buildup of this toxin can lead to blindness. The flowers and maybe even the tubers can have a strong laxative effect. It’s not wise to eat a lot of them in one sitting. Also since there is a possible allergic reaction with any wild plant, you should never have any more then just a taste at first. If you do not suffer any problems after an hour then, you are most likely okay. Never try this plant or any plant alone just in case of problems. I know that sounds somewhat frightening perhaps, you shouldn’t pass up a sample. Remember, only accept wild edibles from someone that you trust. Accidents do and can happen. I hope, you’ve even enjoyed this little look into daylilies. With a little bit knowledge, we can have a deeper love and appreciation for the world around us and that is why I do these posts.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/04/09/HOG7UC42QO1.DTL

http://www.survivaliq.com/survival/edible-and-medicinal-plants-daylily.htm

http://www.frontrangeliving.com/garden/daylilies.htm

http://www.suburblicious.com/suburblicious/archives/000673.html

http://www.waysidegardensvoices.com/2007/05/edible_daylilie.html

http://herbsupplements.lifetips.com/cat/56327/edible-flowers/