Hypoxidaceae FAMILY

Hypoxis hygrometrica

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

Plant contains calcium oxalate crystals and can cause mild irritation to the throat if eaten[ 144 Title Wild Food in Australia. Publication Author Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Publisher Fontana Year 1976 ISBN 0-00-634436-4 Description A very good pocket guide. ]. Thorough cooking destroys the toxin. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ].

Botanical Description

Hypoxis hygrometrica is a perennial plant producing a cluster of grass-like leaves from a corm-like tuber; it can grow up to 15cm tall, spreading at the roots to form a small clump. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, valued for its small, open star-shaped flowers[ 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeAustralia - Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and southeast Queensland

HabitatMoist positions in grassland and heath[ 144 Title Wild Food in Australia. Publication Author Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Publisher Fontana Year 1976 ISBN 0-00-634436-4 Description A very good pocket guide. ]. Very common in swampy areas in grassland or in grassy forest clearings[ 1888 Title Aboriginal Plant Use - NSW Southern Tablelands Publication Author Website https://www.anbg.gov.au/apu/index.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A website produced by the Australian National Botanic Garden giving information on the traditional uses of more than 80 species of plant ].