Fringed Lilies

This week, this photo of a Fringed Lily (Thysanotus tuberosus) came 5th in the Lily Section in the photographic competition on the gardening website, All Things Plants, USA (https://allthingsplants.com/).

The lily is one of my favourite living things. The colour is appealing and the arrangement of the tassels coming out of the petals is so unusual for a bloom.

The blooms are tiny, however, about 23mm (1") across, and in groups up to five. The flower only lasts for a day. The scapes rise to about 40cm (16"). The thin leaves are usually dead by the time it flowers in spring and summer but they can grow to 45cm (1.5').

Fringe Lilies are easy to propagate by seed and grow well in containers. The small black seeds are inside the fruit, a capsule about 7mm (0.3") long . Here I have them growing in an old wheelbarrow.

 

In Native Plants of the Bay Islands (Volume 1), they say the roots and the base of the leaves are edible. The tubers are said to be crisp and juicy. They are encased in hard shells but split open when cooked in hot ashes.

 

As for me, I prefer them as eye candy.