Intro: Erect, scapose perennial from a strongly scented bulb, found in cove and other moist slope forests.

Stems: Stem a leafless flowering scape with a papery sheath at the base, reddish to pale green, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves 2--3, appearing in early spring and withering by time of flowering, basal, often with reddish sheaths at the base, oval to broadly lance-shaped, 6-12 in. long, glossy-green with prominent parallel veins.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in a rounded umbel at top of scape, white or pale-yellow, 1/4 in. wide, bell-shaped, consisting of 6 translucent tepals, 6 stamens with pale yellow anthers and a light green to pale yellow ovary with single white style.

Fruits: Fruit a 3-lobed capsules containing black seeds.

Comments: Foliage and bulbs are a popular wild-foraging food.

Height: 6-11 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect, scapose perennial from a strongly scented bulb, found in cove and other moist slope forests.

stems: Stem a leafless flowering scape with a papery sheath at the base, reddish to pale green, smooth.

leaves: Leaves 2--3, appearing in early spring and withering by time of flowering, basal, often with reddish sheaths at the base, oval to broadly lance-shaped, 6-12 in. long, glossy-green with prominent parallel veins.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in a rounded umbel at top of scape, white or pale-yellow, 1/4 in. wide, bell-shaped, consisting of 6 translucent tepals, 6 stamens with pale yellow anthers and a light green to pale yellow ovary with single white style.

fruits: Fruit a 3-lobed capsules containing black seeds.

comments: Foliage and bulbs are a popular wild-foraging food.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America