Practical
Plants

Marah fabaceus

Bigroot

a perennial woody member of the Marah genus in the family Cucurbitaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Marah
Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
Height
6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
monoecious
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.

The root is said to be poisonous to fish[5]. We have no reports as to whether or not it is toxic to mammals[K].

Edible uses

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

Used as a vegetable[2]. We do not know if the fruit, root or the leaves are used[K].

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

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

The crushed seeds, mixed with oil, have been rubbed on the hair to prevent baldness[5].

Product or use
Hair care

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California.
Habitat
Banks and slopes below 750 metres in coastal strand and mixed evergreen forests[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
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 early spring in pots of rich soil in a greenhouse. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 2 weeks at 20°c. Put 2 or 3 seeds in each pot and thin to the best plant. Grow on fast and plant out after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation

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

Requires a rich soil and abundant moisture[1]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[3]. A climbing plant, supporting itself by means of tendrils[4].

References

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

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  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  4. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

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

    ↩1↩2

  6. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

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