Practical
Plants

Pogogyne douglasii parviflora

Mesamint

an annual or perennial member of the Pogogyne genus in the family Labiatae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Life cycle
annual, perennial
Height
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

The leaves are used as a sweet and aromatic flavouring for wheat and barley piñole[6][7][3][5]. The leaves are used as a tea substitute[2][3][5]. Seed - raw or cooked. It is used as an aromatic ingredient of wheat and barley piñole[2][4][5]. Highly prized by the native American Indians, it is gathered in surprisingly large quantities[4].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Seed

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.

The leaves have been used as a counter-irritant in the treatment of stomach and bowel pains[5].

Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

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

The leaves have been used against fleas[5]. The report does not specify if this is as a repellent or insecticide[5].

Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California.
Habitat
Low places below 1000 metres[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
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 - sow early to mid spring in a warm greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[1].

Cultivation

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

We have very little information on this species but believe that it can be grown as a half-hardy annual in Britain. It is likely to need a sunny position in a light or medium well-drained soil.

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  6. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  7. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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

    ↩

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