Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl.

Rhizome poorly developed; roots fibrous with distinct tubers usually less than 1.5 cm long and 4 mm broad (not present in all herbarium material even where roots are well represented). Leaves numerous, linear, usually more or less straight, acute or subacute, usually minutely denticulate on vein and margin, usually with a distinct midrib, glaucous (waxy) on the lower surface, 18-60 cm by 1.5-3(-3.5) mm. Peduncle (10-)12-35 cm. Lower bracts 5-10 mm long. Pedicels solitary, spreading or erect-spreading, articulated near or below the middle, 2.5-3 mm. Perianth segments white or violet, oblong-elliptic or ovate, obtuse, the inner slightly smaller than the outer, free segments, 3.5-4 by 2-3 mm. Anthers 2-2.5 mm long; filaments connate at the base, c. ¼ mm long and up to 0.25 mm broad at the base. Ovary inferior or semi-inferior; style terete, sublinear, c. 3 mm, simple; ovules 2 per locule. Seeds up to 6, glossy blue, globose or slightly ellipsoid, c. 4 mm long.

It is a temperate plant. It grows in dense shady places near cliffs and streams between 200 and 2800 m altitude in China. Melbourne Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

The tuberous roots are occasionally eaten. They must have the bitterness removed.

Plants can be grown from seed or division of the plant.