Practical
Plants

Agoseris glauca

Mountain Dandelion

a perennial member of the Agoseris genus in the family Compositae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The solidified sap (latex) of the stem is chewed as a gum[9][3][4][6][7].

Product or use
Gum

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The following reports refer to the sub-species A. glauca dasycephala (Torr.&Gray.)Jepson. An infusion of the entire plant is used as a wash for sores and rashes[7]. The milky latex is applied to warts in order to remove them[7]. This requires constant applications over a period of weeks for it to be effective[K]. A poultice made from the latex is applied to sores[7]. An infusion of the root is used as a laxative[7].

Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Warts

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A latex in the plant contains rubber, but not in sufficient quantities to make it commercially valuable[6].

Product or use
Latex

Environment

Range
Western N. America - British Columbia to Manitoba, south to California and New Mexico.
Habitat
Meadows and other open places at all elevations[8] in moderately dry to moist or even wet soils[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 15°c[2]. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer or late in the following spring. Division with care in spring[5]. The plants do not like a lot of root disturbance so it is best to pot up the divisions and keep them in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are established.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers full sun and a sandy or gravelly loam low in nutrients[1][5]. The sub-species A. glauca villosa is used for its gum[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩

  3. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  6. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩

  9. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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