Aletris farinosa L.

A perennial plant which grows up to 60 cm high and 15 cm across. The leaves are narrow and sword shaped. The rootstock is horizontal and thick and fibrous. The flowers are white and bell shaped. They occur as several together in a spike at the top of the plant. The fruit are oval capsules.

Grassy or sandy woodlands; dry or moist peats; sands and gravels, especially on the seashore. Open sites of various habitats, moist bogs, dry to mesic prairies, and dry, upland woods and thickets; at elevations up to 2,000 metres or more.

The bulb is eaten cooked and has a bitter taste. It needs to be dried first.

Plants can be grown from seed or by division of the clump.