Practical
Plants

Lomatium macrocarpum

Bigseed Biscuitroot

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

Root - raw or cooked[4]. A staple food for a number of native North American Indian tribes[4]. The root is usually peeled before being cooked or eaten[4]. It can be dried and ground into a powder and then used to make cakes etc[1][2][3]. Seed - raw or cooked. Very nutritious, they can also be ground into a powder[3] and then used with cereal flours when making bread, cakes etc, or be used as a flavouring in soups etc[4]. The seed is very small, but quite easy to harvest[183, K]. A tea can be made from the leaves, stems and flowers[3].

Plant part
Root
Plant part
Seed
Product or use
Tea

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.

An infusion of the roots has been used as a general strengthener for a weakened patient[4]. The infusion is also used as a treatment for colds, influenza and bronchitis[4]. The root has been chewed and the juice swallowed as a treatment for sore throats[4]. The root has been eaten by childless couples, especially older people, in order to help them conceive[4]. A poultice made from the boiled root has been used to treat swellings[4]. The leaves have been used as a padding in a child's cradle to encourage it to sleep more[4].

Product or use
Infertility
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

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

The root has been dried then burnt as a ceremonial incense[4].

Product or use
Incense

Environment

Range
Western N. America - British Columbia to California.
Habitat
Open rocky hills and plains, not extending much into the mountains[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no 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 - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed can be rather slow to germinate, when sown in the spring it usually takes at least 12 months to germinate. Giving it a period of cold stratification might reduce this time. The seedlings need to be pricked out into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle, and should be planted out into their permanent positions in the summer. Fresh seed can be sown immediately in situ. Division may be possible in spring or autumn.

Cultivation

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

We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in much of the country. It can be assumed that plants will require a dry to moist but well-drained soil in a sunny position. Polymorphic[5]. This is a taxonomically very difficult genus, many of the species now included in it have at times been included in other genera[5].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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