Lithospermum incisum
| Lithospermum incisum | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 6.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Lithospermum incisum (common name: narrow-leaf gromwell)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings.
Division.
Cultivation: Requires a warm sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained soil[1][2]. Dislikes acid soils[1].
After producing large, conspicuous flowers in the spring, the plant produces lots of small very fertile cleistogamous flowers[3].
Range: Central N. America - British Columbia to Manitoba, south to Illinois, Texas and Arizona.
Habitat: Dry soils of plains, foothills and ridges in mountains to 2100 metres[4].
Edibility: Root - cooked[5][6][7][4]. Eaten boiled or roasted[8].
The root has been used to make a tea[8].
Medicinal: The root has been chewed by some native North American Indian tribes as a treatment for colds[9].
The finely powdered leaves, root and stem have been rubbed on the body in the treatment of paralyzed limbs[8].
An infusion of the root has been used in the treatment of stomach aches and kidney problems[8].
The plant has been eaten as an oral contraceptive and also as a treatment for lung haemorrhages, coughs and colds[8].
A cold infusion of the pulverized root and seed has been used as an eyewash[8].
This plant was used as a medicine by various native North American Indian tribes and interest in the plant has revived recently as a possible source of modern drugs[4]. No more details are given.
Usage: The dried plant tops have been burnt as an incense[8].
A blue dye has been obtained from the roots[8]. A red dye is obtained from the roots[3]. It is quite possible that both colours can be obtained, depending on the mordant used[K].
The seeds have been used as beads[8].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: L. angustifolium. Michx. L. breviflorum.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Davis, Ray and Frank Craighead. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers. The Riverside Press, 1963.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.