Practical
Plants

Aletris farinosa

Unicorn Root

a perennial member of the Aletris genus in the family Liliaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Liliaceae
Genus
Aletris
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.15 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

The fresh root is mildly poisonous[8].

Edible uses

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

Bulb - cooked[2][3][4]. Intensely bitter[5]. A bitter-sweet soapy taste[11].

Plant part
Root

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 greatest value of unicorn root is its tonic influence on the female generative organs, proving to be of great use in treating cases of habitual miscarriages[13]. It also promotes the appetite and is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, rheumatism and jaundice[10]. The root is bitter, diuretic, narcotic and tonic[1][8][15][9]. Only use the dried rootstock[8], in large doses the fresh root is somewhat narcotic, emetic and cathartic[13]. A decoction of the root is a bitter tonic and has been used for expelling flatulence and for various uterine disorders[7][10]. It is used in the treatment of colic, though small doses, especially of the fresh root[13], can cause hypogastric colic[10]. The root is harvested in late summer after flowering and dried for later use[11]. The root contains diosgenin, which has both anti-inflammatory and oestrogenic properties[10]. A tea of the leaves has been used in the treatment of colic, stomach disorders, dysentery and bloody dysentery[9][12].

Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Bitter
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Tonic

Environment

Range
South-eastern N. America - Southern Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Wisconsin.
Habitat
Grassy or sandy woodlands, in dry or moist peats, sands and gravels, especially on the seashore[13][8][14]
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
very acid, acid
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in early spring. Sow the seed thinly to allow the seedlings to be grown on for their first year without potting them up, but give a liquid feed from time to time to ensure that they do not become nutrient deficient. Prick the young plants out into individual pots the following spring and grow them on in the greenhouse for the next winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a damp sunny position in peat, leafmold and sand[1]. Requires a sunny position[6]. Plants are hardy to between -10 and -15°c[6].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  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

    ↩

  5. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  7. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  8. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

  10. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  13. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

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