Herbarium of the Ancients — Detailed RecordFR · EN
Androstephium caeruleum
Androstephium coeruleum
Please read before use: the information below describes traditional and informational uses — it does not replace professional medical advice. In case of doubt, pregnancy, breastfeeding, ongoing treatment, or use with children, consult a qualified practitioner before use.
Enhanced precautions for this plant: Available information on this plant is too limited to guarantee its safety; any consumption is not recommended without advice from a botanical specialist or healthcare professional. The bulb, like that of many liliaceae, may be confused with toxic neighboring species; reliable identification by an expert is essential before any handling. Avoid any use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as well as with children, in the absence of safety data. Do not use this plant for therapeutic purposes: its documented traditional use is too limited to provide any recommendations.
Food Preparation — Bulb
Raw or cooked bulb (reported traditional food use)
According to rare ethnobotanical accounts, the bulb may have been consumed raw or cooked in ashes, similar to other prairie bulbs. Due to lack of reliable and sufficient documentation, this practice cannot be recommended or detailed further; it is mentioned here for purely historical purposes. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
Where to Find It
Sourcing the Plant
This plant grows wild in prairies and plains of the central United States; it is not commercially cultivated and is not found in herbal shops.
Harvest Season
When to Harvest It
Leaves and flowers appear in spring, the period when the plant was traditionally spotted before any potential harvesting of the bulb.
← Back to profile