Cryptotaenia canadensis
Honewort
a perennial member of the Cryptotaenia genus in the family Umbelliferae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Umbelliferae
- Genus
- Cryptotaenia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1 m
- Spread
- 0.6 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young leaves, stems and flowers - raw or cooked[1][2]. Used as a potherb or added to salads[3]. A flavour that is somewhat like celery[7], if you use your imagination[K]. Root - cooked[2][3]. The seeds are used as a flavouring for cakes, breads and biscuits[3].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
- Plant part
- Stem
Environment
- Range
- Eastern N. America - Western New Brunswick to Manitoba and south to Alabama. Arkansas and Texas.
- Shade tolerance
- partial shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- 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 - sow April in a greenhouse. Germination is usually rapid, prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. The ideal temperature for sowing is about 25°c, though seed does germinate at higher and lower temperatures[5]. Seed can also be sown in early autumn[5]. Division in spring or autumn.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in a rich moist soil, preferring to grow in dappled shade[4][7]. Closely related to C. japonica, a species that is cultivated as a vegetable in Japan[43, K]. This species is being cultivated in America to supply the Japanese market with a chervil-like herb[6]. Slugs are extremely fond of this plant, especially when the new growth emerges in spring[K].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00