Practical
Plants

Angelica atropurpurea

Purplestem Angelica

a perennial member of the Angelica genus in the family Umbelliferae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
3 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

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.

All members of this genus contain furocoumarins, which increase skin sensitivity to sunlight and may cause dermatitis[8].

Edible uses

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

Young shoots and leaf stalks - raw or cooked[12][1][2]. When boiled in two lots of water they form a vegetable that strongly resembles celery. They can be peeled and eaten in salads or blanched and cooked like asparagus[3]. The stems can also be candied and used as a sweetmeat[4]. Root, leafstalks and stems - candied[2][3].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Stem

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.

A tea made from the leaves is carminative and stomachic[6]. It is also used in the treatment of colds, rheumatism etc[6]. The seed and roots can also be used and have a stronger effect[6]. The plant has similar properties to angelica, A. archangelica, though it is inferior since it is less aromatic[10]. The root is carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, sedative, stomachic and tonic[9]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of fevers, colds, flatulent colic and other stomach disorders, obstructed menses and as a general tonic for women[9]. Externally it has been used as a gargle for sore throats and mouths and as a poultice for broken bones, swellings etc[9]. It has also been used, both internally and externally, as a treatment for rheumatism[9].

Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Ontario and Minnesota, south to Delaware, Illinois and Iowa.
Habitat
Rich thickets, bottomlands and swamps[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe since the seed only has a short viability[5]. Seed can also be sown in the spring, though germination rates will be lower. It requires light for germination[5]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in the spring. The seed can also be sow in situ as soon as it is ripe.

Cultivation

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

Requires a deep moist fertile soil in dappled shade or full sun[5]. Plants are reliably perennial if they are prevented from setting seed[5].

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. 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

  7. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  12. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩

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