I have been amazed by the range of Lilium species as well as Cardiocrinum used in cooking discovered during researching my Lilies book. Nearly, but not quite all, lilies are used from the Russian Far East, Japan including the Ainu, China, Tibet, Central Asiatic republics & eastern Europe. A few are rather bitter, several are quite sweet [so I am told] while one or two are not advised!. Clearly as a source of starch lilies can prove quite an important part of the diet of rural peoples through out the Old World, perhaps less so now for many, but if anyone knows whether Native Americans used, or still use, New World lilium for food I would be very glad to hear about it please. Iain -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for Personal use. SPAMfighter has removed 23068 of my spam emails to date. Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len/ The Trial and Professional version does not have this message in the email