Hedysarum arcticum
| Hedysarum arcticum | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Nitrogen Fixer | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Hedysarum arcticum
Propagation: Seed - sow in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe or in the spring[1]. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer.
Division in spring. Great care is needed since the plant dislikes root disturbance[1].
Cultivation: We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in this country though, judging by its native range, it should be perfectly hardy in this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Easily grown in ordinary garden soil in a sunny position, preferring a deep well-drained sandy loam[2][1].
Plants strongly resent root disturbance and should be placed in their permanent positions as soon as possible[2].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[1].
Range: Circumboreal.
Habitat: Mountain tundra in the Arctic[3].
Edibility: Root - raw or cooked. Dried, ground into a powder and used as a flour[3].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: H. hedysaroides arcticum. (B.Fedtsch)P.W.Ball.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.