Dried daylilies are made from the unopened flower buds of the Hemerocallis fulva plant, which are processed by drying. Because of their golden color and needle-like shape, they are also known as golden needles. They are nutritious and a popular vegetable. Daylilies are mostly sold in the market as a dried product. Fresh daylilies are rarely seen. What is the reason for this?
Fresh daylilies contain a component called colchicine. In itself, it is non-toxic and is absorbed slowly in the gastrointestinal tract. However, once it enters the human body, it is easily oxidized into colchicine dioxide, a substance that is highly toxic. After poisoning, a person mainly shows symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sore throat, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and headache. Dried daylilies are made by steaming and sun-drying fresh daylilies, which destroys the colchicine component. Therefore, eating the dried product is much safer. For this reason, please do not eat fresh daylilies.