Chlorogalum pomeridianum Soap lily (Hyacinthaceae)

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Chlorogalum pomeridianum
Soap lily
(1 Page of 5)

The Chlorogalum pomeridianum plant species is found in Southwestern N. America - California. It is a member of the Hyacinthaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Soap lily. Some home gardeners know the variety as Loathoe pomeridiana.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Chlorogalum pomeridianum
Common Name:  Soap lily
Family:  Hyacinthaceae
Author:  (DC.)Kunth.

Known Hazards:  The bulb contains saponins. Although fairly toxic, these substances are very poorly absorbed by the body and most of them simply pass straight through. Saponins are found in a number of common foods, including many beans. They are destroyed by thorough cooking[K]. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K].

Mature Height:  2   Mature Width:  0.3

Habitat:  Dry open hills and plains, occasionally in woods, below 1500 metres[71].

General Uses: A glue can be made from the sap that is expressed from baking bulbs[92, 94, 257]. The bulbs can be boiled into a liquid starch which can then be used to twined baskets to close the interstices so that seeds do not fall through[257]. A soap is obtained from the bulb[21, 46, 61, 169]. The bulb is stripped of its outer fibrous covering and rubbed on clothes or hands in water to produce a lather[92, 95]. It is very good for delicate fabrics and has a gentle affect upon the skin[92, K]. The bulb can also be dried for later use, it can then be grated as required and used as soap flakes[92]. A fibre obtained from the outer covering of the bulb is used to make small brushes or as a filling for matresses etc[92, 94, 169, 257].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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