DESCRIPTION

Plant with bulb of 30 to 150 cm high. Leaves oval-oblong with smooth margin, up to 15cm long; lower leaves arranged in whorls, alternate upper leaves. Scented flowers 5 to 8 cm in diameter at the end of the stem. Long stalks inclined downwards, so that the flower opens downwards; 6 dark pink to red tepals curved turban-shaped up.

​

HISTORY

Lily: comes from the Latin lilium or the Celtic word li which means white. The bulbs were consumed in times of scarcity. Their color inspired the alchemists who would have used them to turn the material into gold (according to Matthioli in 1554). Placing themselves under the influence of the god Mars, they would have given his name to the martagon. The martagon lily onion was considered a good luck charm. It was put on the neck of little children who were teething. It is still said that the flower opens the locks, unties the links, that it is a charm of love, that it drives out the demons ... It is said that the yellow bulbs of this Lily, if we put them next to the milk and butter, turn yellow it, which must be true because in former Switzerland, these bulbs were fed to the cows, so that their fat became yellow.Lily: comes from the Latin lilium or the Celtic word li which means white. The bulbs were consumed in times of scarcity. Their color inspired the alchemists who would have used them to turn the material into gold (according to Matthioli in 1554). Placing themselves under the influence of the god Mars, they would have given his name to the martagon. The martagon lily onion was considered a good luck charm. It was put on the neck of little children who were teething. It is still said that the flower opens the locks, unties the links, that it is a charm of love, that it drives out the demons ... It is said that the yellow bulbs of this Lily, if we put them next to the milk and butter, turn yellow it, which must be true because in former Switzerland, these bulbs were gave these bulbs to eat in cows, for that their fat became yellow.

​

HABITAT

In all Alpine regions; mountain forests, scrub, alpine meadows; on very humus soils; up to 2800 m altitude.

​

PARTICULARITIES

The plant has contractile roots. They can be shortened and thus pull the bulb to the depth most conducive to growth. The bulb is edible after cooking. Like many Lilies, bulbs have been consumed for centuries, if not millennia, in China and Japan. Medicinal properties: anti-rheumatic. Culinary uses : bulb boiled with water to eat as a vegetable. The pollen can be collected in sufficient quantity to pleasantly color a dish of vegetables. It is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and enzymes.

​

THREAT

This flower is protected, do not pick it !

​