Ophiopogon (lilyturf)[2] is a genus of evergreen perennial plants native to warm temperate to tropical East, Southeast, and South Asia.

[1][3] Despite their grasslike appearance, they are not closely related to the true grasses, the Poaceae.

The name of the genus is derived from Greek ὄφις ophis, 'snake' and πώγων pogon, 'beard', most probably referring to its leaves and tufted growth.

In Chinese medicine, the tuber of O. japonicus, known as mai men dong, is the cardinal herb for yin deficiency.

According to the Chinese herbal medicine Materia Medica, the herb is sweet, slightly bitter, and slightly cold; it enters the heart, lung and stomach channels, thus nourishes the yin of the stomach, spleen, heart, and lungs, and clears heat and quiets irritability.