Lily Leek

Growth habit

Geophyte

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Native distribution

Southern Europe

Biocultural value

Named after moly, the mythological plant that was given to Ulysses to protect him from Circe's enchantment in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey.

Location

Robison Herb Garden

Source of plant

Bluebird Nursery Inc., Agway

Description

Bulbs ovoid, not on a rhizome, outer bulb coat leathery, covered with a pale membrane, obscuring acontorted network of meshes. Scape to 1 1/2' in height; leaves 2, basal, lanceolate, narrowed towardbase and apex, 1/2" to 2" wide, to 12" long, glaucous; umbel several- to many-flowered, pedicels 1 to 3 times as long as flowers; perianth segments bright yellow, 3/8" to 1/2" long, papery and persistent, filaments about half as long as segments, entire; ovary without nectaries.

USDA Hardiness Zone

5