Perideridia gairdneri
| Perideridia gairdneri | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |    |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 4' |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Perideridia gairdneri (common name: yampa)
Propagation: Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Alternatively, sow it in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter, planting out in late spring of the following year.
Division may be possible in spring or autumn.
Cultivation: We have very little information on the cultivation needs of this plant and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. Judging by its native range it is likely to succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. From its native habitat it is assumed that the plant is fairly tolerant of soil conditions and of sun or shade.
Yampa is a marvellous food plant that has been widely used as a staple wild food by native N. American Indians. It is just asking for cultivation in order to improve the root size[1].
Range: Western N. America - Saskatchewan to California.
Habitat: Woodland, dry and wet meadows and mountains[2].
Edibility: Root - raw or cooked[2][3]. A pleasant sweet and nutty taste[4][5][6][7], it can be eaten in quantity as a staple food[8]. It is best used when the plant is dormant[1]. The root can also be dried for later use or ground into a powder and used with cereals when making porridges, cakes etc[8].
The seed is used as a caraway-like seasoning, or can be parched and eaten in porridge or used as piñole[1][9][8][10].
Young leaves - raw or cooked[10].
Medicinal: The root is carminative, diuretic, mildly laxative and ophthalmic[11][10]. An infusion of the roots has been taken to counter the cathartic and emetic effects of another infusion[10]. An infusion of the roots has been applied as a wash to sores and wounds and also used as a nasal wash to get rid of catarrh[10]. A poultice of the roots has been used to draw inflammation from swellings[10].
The juice of the slowly chewed root is said to be beneficial in the treatment of sore throats and coughs[12][10].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Late Spring-Mid Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Carum gairdneri
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harrington, Harold. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press, 1967.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Saunders, Charles. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1976.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Sweet, Muriel. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co, 1962.
- ↑ Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.