June 23 | Plant of the week Part III

The White Asphodel

The “White Asphodel”, Asphodelus albus, belongs to the grass tree family, the Xanthorrhoeaceae. This warmth-loving species comes from the mediterranean zones of southern Europe, as well as from the western Balkan-Region, it grows in stony, dry mountain meadows to partly shaded woody areas.
In Switzerland we can find it in the Rhone Valley and southern Ticino. It is an imposing perennial that can grow up to 100 cm tall.The thickened roots of the Asphodel used to be placed in bread dough and baked with it. However, they are poisonous when eaten raw.
In ancient times, it was considered a mourning plant and was intended to serve the dead as food for the journey to the realm of the dead.