Smilax herbacea
| Smilax herbacea | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Cross Pollinated | |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Smilax herbacea (common name: carrion flower)
Propagation: Seed - sow March in a warm greenhouse[1]. This note probably refers to the tropical members of the genus, seeds of plants from cooler areas seem to require a period of cold stratification, some species taking 2 or more years to germinate[K]. We sow the seed of temperate species in a cold frame as soon as we receive it, and would sow the seed as soon as it is ripe if we could obtain it then[K]. When the seedlings eventually germinate, prick them out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first year, though we normally grow them on in pots for 2 years. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.
Division in early spring as new growth begins[2]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe shoots, July in a frame[2].
Cultivation: Succeeds in most soils in sun or semi-shade[3].
Hardy to about -20°c[3].
A polymorphic species[4]. The flowers are malodorous[3], they smell like dead rats[5].
A vigorous plant, it can be grown through trees or shrubs or over tree stumps[3].
The sub-species S. herbacea nipponicum is used in Japan[6]. This report probably refers to the species S. nipponica[K].
Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
Range: Eastern N. America - southwards from Quebec.
Habitat: Open woodlands, meadows and rich alluvial thickets[4].
Edibility: Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked and used like asparagus[7][8][9]. A delicate and palatable vegetable[10].
Fruit - raw or cooked and used in jellies etc[7][10]. It should only be used when fully ripe[10]. A pleasant flavour[5][11]. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[3].
Root - cooked[11]. It can be dried, ground into a powder and then used with cereals for making bread etc[12][8]. It can also be used as a gelatine substitute[12][8].
Medicinal: Eating the fruit is said to be effective in treating hoarseness[5][11].
The parched and powdered leaves have been used as a dressing on burns[11]. The wilted leaves have been used as a dressing on boils[11].
The root is analgesic[11]. A decoction has been used in the treatment of back pains, stomach complaints, lung disorders and kidney problems[11].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Dioecious
Links
References
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Harrington, Harold. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press, 1967.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Kavasch, Barrie. Native Harvests. Vintage Books, 1979.
- ↑ McPherson, Alan and Sue McPherson. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press, 1977.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Elias, Thomas. A Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1982.