Practical
Plants

Angelica genuflexa

Kneeling Angelica

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 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[3].

Edible uses

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

Young leaves - cooked[4]. Used as a flavouring[1]. Young stems - peeled and eaten raw[1][4]. Seed - used as a flavouring[1].

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Leaves
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.

The raw root, or a decoction made from it, has been used as a purgative[4]. A compound decoction of the root has been used to treat headaches and weak eyes[4].

Material uses

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

The hollow stems have been used to make drinking straws, whistles and as breathing stems to allow people to remain underwater[4]. The have also been used as containers to collect pitch from Picea sitchensis[4]. The leaves were used as a deodorant by native North Americans. The leaves were chewed and the juice rubbed onto the body to mask the human smell[4].

Product or use
Containers
Product or use
Deodorant
Product or use
Musical
Product or use
Straw

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Siberia. North-western N. America - northern California northwards to Alaska.
Habitat
Moist places[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
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[2]. Seed can also be sown in the spring, though germination rates will be lower. It requires light for germination[2]. 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.

We have very little information on this species and do not know how hardy it will be in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a deep moist fertile soil in dappled shade or full sun[2]. Plants are reliably perennial if they are prevented from setting seed[2].

References

  1. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

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

    ↩

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