Asparagaceae FAMILY

Arthropodium cirrhatum

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Arthropodium cirrhatum is an evergreen, perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock. The plant produces a cluster of spear-shaped, basal leaves up to 60cm long and one or more flowering stems up to 100cm long[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It was possibly cultivated by the Maori as a root crop - the plant responds well to cultivation with a notable increase in root size[ 292 Title People Plants Database Publication Author Website https://maoriplantuse.landcareresearch.co.nz/WebForms/default.aspx Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An online database of New Zealand plants and their Maori names and uses. An excellent information source. ]. It is often grown in gardens, valued especially for itd floral display.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeNew Zealand

HabitatRocky cliffs near the sea, often in colonies, on North and South Islands north of latitude 42° 30´s[ 44 Title Flora of New Zealand. Publication Author Allan. H. H. Website http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/Book.aspx?fileName=Flora%201.xml Publisher Government Printer, Wellington. Year 1961 ISBN - Description The standard work, in 5 volumes though only the first two are of interest to the plant project. Very good on habitats. There is also an on-line version. ]