Asphodelaceae FAMILY

Dianella ensifolia

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The plant is considered poisonous in China, and cattle are said to die from eating it[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ].

Botanical Description

Dianella ensifolia is an evergreen, perennial herb with grass-like leaves growing from a branched, gradually spreading rhizome. It can grow up to 1.5 metres tall, spreading at the roots to form quite large clumps[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for use as a medicine, insect, pesticide and dye. It is grown as an ornamental, especially in rockeries[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeSouthern tropical Africa, through tropical and subtropical Asia to Indonesia and the Philippines.

HabitatLow altitude evergreen rainforest, often beside rivers, in deep shade of forest floor, usually forming dense stands[ 308 Title Flora Zambesiaca Publication Author Website http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants. ]. Forests and grassy slopes from near sea level to elevations of 1,700 metres in southern China[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].