Practical
Plants

Cymopterus acaulis

Plains Springparsley

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.1 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.

Although no reports of toxicity have been seen, we have some reservations on this root, particularly as it gets old, because of its recorded use as an insecticide.

Edible uses

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

Root - raw or cooked[2][4]. A pleasant taste[1]. The young roots in spring are the best, but roots can also be eaten at other times of the year[5]. Only the young roots should be used[6]. (Does this mean that the older roots can be harmful? See the notes above on toxicity) Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[2][4][5][6][1].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Material uses

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

The water from boiling up old roots is used as an insecticide[6].

Product or use
Insecticide

Environment

Range
Western N. America - north to Alberta.
Habitat
Dry flats and hillsides, on plains and in valleys[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
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 - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible in a greenhouse. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn might be possible.

Cultivation

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

We have almost no information on the needs of this species and do not know if it is hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should outdoors in many parts of the country. We suggest growing it in a sunny position in a well-drained light or medium soil[K].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  5. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2

  6. Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co. 1962-00-00 ISBN 0-911010-54-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

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