Practical
Plants

Eriogonum jamesii

Antelope Sage

a perennial member of the Eriogonum genus in the family Polygonaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.25 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

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.

Some native North American Indian tribes used this plant as a contraceptive. The women would drink one cup of a decoction of the root during menstruation[3]. A decoction of the whole plant has been drunk to ease the pain of childbirth[5]. The root has been chewed as a cardiac medicine and as a treatment for stomach aches[5]. An infusion of the roots has been used to treat despondency[5]. The infusion has also been used as a wash for sore eyes[5]. The plant has been chewed to sweeten the saliva[5].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Contraceptive
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Stomachic

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - Colorado, Utah and New Mexico.
Habitat
Dry and rocky slopes, and shale mesas[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a sandy compost in a greenhouse. Sow stored seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse[1]. 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 out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring[1]. This has to be done with care because the plant resents root disturbance[2]. Try to obtain divisions from around the edges of the plants without digging up the whole clump. Tease the divisions out with as much root on them as possible and pot them up. Grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse until they are rooting well and plant them out in the summer. Cuttings of greenwood with a heel in the summer[2].

Cultivation

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

Requires a loose lean gritty well-drained soil in a very sunny position[2]. Succeeds in dry soils. Tolerates exposed positions[2]. Requires some protection from winter wet[1]. Established plants deeply resent root disturbance[2].

References

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

    ↩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↩5

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

    ↩

  4. McGregor. R. L. & Barkley. T. M. Flora of the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas. 1986-00-00 ISBN 070060295x

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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