Pectis angustifolia
| Pectis angustifolia | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Mid Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Pectis angustifolia (common name: narrowleaf pectis)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts.
If you have sufficient seed it may be worthwhile trying an outdoor sowing in situ in mid to late spring.
Cultivation: We have very little information on this species. It can be grown outdoors in Britain as a half-hardy annual and requires a dry to moist light or medium well-drained soil in a sunny position[1].
The flowers are spicily scented whilst the leaves also have an aromatic fragrance[1].
Range: Western N. America - Nebraska and Colorado to Arizona and Mexico.
Habitat: Dry uplands, usually on calcareous soils[2]. Dry soils[3] in sandy or gravelly mesas, 1000 - 2100 metres in Arizona.
Edibility: Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[4][5][6]. They are also used as a flavouring[4][5], they have a strong lemon-scent[3]. The leaves are eagerly collected by the Hopi Indians[7].
Medicinal: The plant is carminative and emetic[6]. The crushed leaves have been used in the treatment of stomach aches[6].
The blossoms, mixed with salt, have been eaten in the treatment of stomach complaints[6].
Usage: The plant yields an inferior dye[7]. No more details are given.
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Late Spring-Late Fall
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Britton, Nathaniel and Addison Brown. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1970.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Whiting, Alfred. Ethnobotany of the Hopi. North Arizona Society of Science and Art, 1939.