Practical
Plants

Osmorhiza longistylis

Aniseroot

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.2 m
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. Very sweet, aromatic and fleshy[7]. A spicy flavour similar to anise, the roots are chewed, made into a tea or used as a flavouring[1][2][4]. Leaves and young shoots - raw. An anise flavour, they are added to salads[3][4]. The green seeds have an anise flavour and are used as a flavouring in salads, the dry seeds are added to cakes etc[4].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

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 poultice of the roots are used in the treatment of boils and wounds[6][7]. A tea made from the roots is stomachic[7]. It has been used in the treatment of stomach complaints, kidney problems, amenorrhoea, general debility, to ease childbirth and also to bathe sore eyes[7][8].

Product or use
Birthing aid
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Stomachic

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Ontario, Alabama, Tennessee, Kansas and Colorado.
Habitat
Rich, often alluvial woods and thickets[10]. Woods, often along the sides of streams in Texas[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible, otherwise sow it in early spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in any deep moisture-retentive soil in sun or dappled shade[5]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[5]. Well suited to naturalistic plantings in a woodland or wild garden[5]. A sweetly aromatic plant[5].

References

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

    ↩

  2. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

  7. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

  9. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  10. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

Edit this page