Cardiocrinum cordatum explained

Cardiocrinum cordatum, also known as Turep in the Ainu Languages, is a Northeast Asian species of plants in the lily family. It is native to Japan and to certain Russian islands in the Sea of Okhotsk (Sakhalin, Kuril Islands).^{[1] [2] [3]} Because of its large, showy flowers, Cardiocrinum cordatum is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental in regions outside its native range, though not as frequently as the related C. giganteum.^{[4] [5]}

The Ainu, a group indigenous to Hokkaido, harvested the bulbs. Starch was extracted and used to create a form of dumpling.^[6]

The plant has reportedly become naturalized in the State of Maryland in the eastern United States.^{[7] [8]}

Notes and References

1. Makino, Tomitarô 1932. Journal of Japanese Botany 8: 6.
2. Czerepanov, S.K. (1995). Vascular Plants of Russia and Adjacent States (The Former USSR): 1-516. Cambridge University Press.
3. Makino, Tomitarô 1913. Shokubutsu-gaku zasshi 27:124
4. https://archive.today/20150419134025/http://rareplants.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=763&strPageHistory=related Rare Plants UK
5. https://archive.today/20150419134029/http://www.plant-world-seeds.com/store/view_seed_item/3211 Plant World Seeds
6. Book: 萩中美枝. Kikigaki Ainu no shokuji. 1992. Nō-san-gyoson Bunka Kyōkai. Haginaka. Mie, 萩中美枝.. 4-540-92004-9. Tōkyō. 28495951.
7. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Cardiocrinum%20cordatum.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbo738_tLkQ Youtube video, Cardiocrinum cordatum in a Maryland woodland 2/2