Practical
Plants

Erysimum cheiranthoides

Wormseed Mustard

an annual member of the Erysimum genus in the family Brassicaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
1 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

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.

A drink made from the crushed seed is used as a vermifuge[3]. It is intensely bitter but has been used on children and expels the worms both by vomit and by excretion[5][3]. A decoction of the root has been applied to skin eruptions[4].

Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Vermifuge

Environment

Range
N. America - Newfoundland to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Missouri, west to the Pacific coast.
Habitat
Found in many habitats from southern British Columbia to California at elevations of 750 - 3600 metres[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
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 - sow in situ in the spring[2]. Germination should take place within 3 weeks.

Cultivation

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

Requires a well-drained soil and a sunny position[2]. Dislikes acid soils[2]. Tolerates poor soils[2].

References

  1. Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968-00-00

    ↩

  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. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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