Hedysarum alpinum
Alpine Sweetvetch
a perennial member of the Hedysarum genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Hedysarum
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.6 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Root - raw or cooked[8][4]. A carrot-like flavour[2]. The root can be harvested from autumn until spring, it tastes best after some frosts[3].
- Plant part
- Root
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- N. America. to N. Asia.
- Habitat
- Calcareous rocks and gravelly soils, north to Alaska[7]. Swampy meadows and swamps in China[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- 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 - sow in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe or in the spring[5]. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Division in spring. Great care is needed since the plant dislikes root disturbance[5].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Easily grown in ordinary garden soil in a sunny position, preferring a deep well-drained sandy loam[1][5]. Plants strongly resent root disturbance and should be placed in their permanent positions as soon as possible[1]. The var. H. alpinum americanum. Michx. is used for food[8][4]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[5].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202