Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Ornamental - Ornamental plant popular for naturalizing, container gardening, or forcing indoors during winter. Medicine - The root is used to relieve headaches. The chopped root is applied externally as an antiphlogistic and analgesic poultice to abscesses, boils and other skin complaints. The plant has a folklore of effectiveness against certain forms of cancer. Cosmetics/Essential oils - Essential oil derived from flowers is used in perfumery.
Afghanistan, China, Pakistan
Thrives in subtropical biome (a region with warm, humid summers and mild winters, located between the tropics and temperate zones).
It is bulbous perennial herb growing 15-60 cm tall.
Stem is round, hollow scape (leafless flower stem) arising from the bulb.
Leaves are narrow, strap-like, dark green, 15-75 cm long, arising from the base.
Flowers are showy, fragrant, white or yellow with a central cup, often multiple flowers per stem.
Fruit is three-valved capsule containing black seeds.
Flowering: Late winter-early spring.