Asphodelus

Asphodelus is a genus of mainly perennial flowering plants in the asphodel family Asphodelaceae[2] that was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The genus was formerly included in the lily family (Liliaceae).[3] The genus is native to temperate Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent, and some species have been introduced to, and are now naturalized in, other places such as New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and southwestern United States.[1][4] Many asphodels are popular garden plants, which grow in well-drained soils with abundant natural light.

The plants are hardy herbaceous perennials with narrow tufted radical leaves and an elongated stem bearing a handsome spike of white or yellow flowers. Asphodelus albus and A. fistulosus have white flowers and grow from 1½ to 2 ft. high; A. ramosus is a larger plant, the large white flowers of which have a reddish-brown line in the middle of each segment.

The leaves[clarification needed] are used to wrap burrata, an Italian cheese. The leaves and the cheese last about the same time, three or four days, and thus fresh leaves are a sign of a fresh cheese, while dried out leaves indicate that the cheese is past its prime.[5]