I ate my orchid! (Nervilia campestris tuber)

[Bulbopedilum]

Yes, I actually did!
One of the 3 N. Campestris tubers I have was not growing it was starting to "mushify" a bit so I decided to cook it!

It was covered in algae so I cut off all green parts to be safe and ended up with a small cube.


Then, I boiled some water and tossed it in. I let the cube boil for 5 minutes.


After that I cooled it down in some water.

Tasting results:
It tastes like an undercooked potato mixed with the white part of a melon, but mostly undercooked potato.

[epiphyte78]

This is the first time that I've heard of anybody eating their orchid. How did you know that it was edible?

[MrHappyRotter]

Originally Posted by epiphyte78

How did you know that it was edible?

As experienced mushroom hunters sometimes tell curious novices: "Everything's edible at least once."

[plantzzzzz]

Originally Posted by epiphyte78

This is the first time that I've heard of anybody eating their orchid. How did you know that it was edible?

FWIW I've never heard of an orchid being poisonous.

The psuedobulbs of various Laelia species (in particular, L. Specosia) were eaten ceremonially in Mexico.

Now that they're so rare, this is far less common.

[Bulbopedilum]

Originally Posted by epiphyte78

This is the first time that I've heard of anybody eating their orchid. How did you know that it was edible?

There's a Turkish flour called Salep that is made from orchid tubers (I believe from the genus Orchis). You can make it into drinks, ice cream, and other things.

For the second part:
1. Ive never heard of a poisonous orchid
2. Nervilia concolor is edible:
Nervilia concolor - Useful Tropical Plants

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

As experienced mushroom hunters sometimes tell curious novices: "Everything's edible at least once."

Thankfully I didnt die or get sick yesterday, but I dont think I'll be eating these again, at least not without seasoning!

[ArronOB]

The Thelymitra, Orthoceras and Gastrodia orchids in New Zealand all have edible tubers and were food items for the Maori.

I’ve eaten Thelymita. Not much to rave about. Apparently Maori children considered them “bush lollies” , but I expect they were much less often exposed to the taste of sugar then we are now.