Not exactly traditional foraging but I have a lot of these that grow without care in untended parts of my garden and I’ve heard they are edible. The tubers are decent size for something that isn’t a crop and I could harvest a good number pretty easily if I wanted.
However, the sources I find online that talk about their edibility don’t seem too reputable, so I’m curious if anyone has first-hand experience. Are they safe to eat in quantity? Any preparation tips?
Please share any knowledge you have!
Within the range of herbivorous mammals, every part of every plant that has not evolved to be consumed by an herbivorous mammal (typically fruit), has developed defenses against herbivory. Often more than one. Fortunately for you, in the case of Chlorophytum tubers, saponins are the sole known defense. And the last time I tried one, I barely noticed a “soapy” taste. It was quite watery, though not as neutral as a water chestnut. Let me know how yours taste!
So you have tried them then? How much did you eat, and how did you prepare them?