A small plant, sending up a single stem from a tuberous root that lies several inches in the ground; the stem clasped by two sheathing and dull-green leaves, lanceolate, large, quite unequal in size, and peculiarly marked with irregular brownish-purple spots; the stem being really a scape, rising from four to six inches, and bearing on its top a single large nodding flower, of an open and recurved bell-shape, of which the three outer segments are yellow marked with purplish-red, and the three inner quite a clear yellow.

Expectorant, contraceptive (plant); emetic (bulb and fresh leaves); Antiscrofulatic and emollient (leaves).

Plants For A Future

The fresh leaves are used as an infusion or stimulating poultice applied to swellings, tumours and scrofulous ulcers. The juice from crushed leaves has been applied to wounds that are not healing. A poultice of the crushed bulbs has been applied to swellings and to help remove splinters.

James A Duke and Maryl Fulton. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs - 2nd Edition, P: 739, CRC Press July 2002.