A perennial herb. Bulb of 2 or 3 scales, ovoid or globose, 1--3 cm in diam. Stem 15--80 cm. Leaves 12-20, opposite, alternate, or sometimes also 3-whorled; leaf blade linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 7-11 × 1-2.5 cm, apex usually slightly cirrose. Inflorescence 1-6-flowered; bracts 2-4, apex cirrose. Flowers nodding, campanulate; pedicel 1-3.5 cm. Tepals pale yellow, sometimes tinged with pale purple or slightly tessellated with purplish brown, oblong-elliptic to narrowly obovate-oblong, 2.5-3.5 × 1-1.8 cm; nectaries small. Stamens 1-1.5 cm; filaments glabrous. Style 3-lobed; lobes 1.5-2 mm. Capsule broadly winged; wings 6-8 mm wide.

Antidote, antitussive, astringent, expectorant, galactogogue and purgative (bulb)

Plants For A Future

Beta-sitosterol, campesterol, fritillarine, fritilline, stigmasterol, succinic acid, thymidine, verticilline, verticine (bulb); peimine (stem)

The bulbs are thought to act specifically on tumours and swellings of the throat, neck and chest, and they are taken in the treatment of thyroid gland nodules, scrofula, abscesses and boils and breast cancer. The bulb is used internally in the treatment of coughs, bronchitis, pneumonia, feverish illnesses, abscesses etc. and used against cancer in folk medicine.

Should be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, excessive doses can cause breathing difficulties and heart failure.