Pedicularis canadensis
| Pedicularis canadensis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Pedicularis canadensis (common name: common lousewort)
Propagation: Seed - sow in pots of turf collected from the proximity of wild colonies or sow directly onto the sites where the plants are to remain[1].
Division of established plants might be possible in the spring. Establish the divisions near the parent plants[1]
Cultivation: A semi-parasitic plant, growing on grass roots. Rather difficult to establish in cultivation, it is best grown in conditions that approximate to its native habitat[1]. It requires a moist peaty soil and the presence of host grasses[2]. The plant is said to parasitize at least 80 different species in 35 different genera[3]. Requires a partially shaded to sunny site in a well-drained gritty but moist soil[1].
Range: Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Manitoba, south to northern Mexico and east to Florida.
Habitat: Dry woods, thickets and clearings[4][5].
Edibility: Leaves - cooked[6][7][8][9].
Medicinal: The roots are blood tonic, cardiac and stomachic[9]. A tea is used in the treatment of stomach aches, ulcers, diarrhoea, anaemia and heart troubles[10][9]. A poultice of the root is applied to swellings, sore muscles and tumours[11][9].
The finely grated roots were secretly added to food as an alleged aphrodisiac[10].
An infusion of the leaves has been used to procure an abortion[9]. An infusion of the fresh or dried leaves has been used to treat a sore throat[9].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The plant is said to be poisonous to sheep[3].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ Britton, Nathaniel and Addison Brown. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1970.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.