Practical
Plants

Smilacena racemosa

False Spikenard

a perennial member of the Smilacena genus in the family Convallariaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw, cooked or made into jellies and molasses[6][15][16][18][1][4]. The fruit is smaller than a pea but is produced in quite large terminal clusters on the plant and so is easy to harvest. It has a delicious bitter-sweet flavour, suggesting bitter molasses[18][4]. The fruit is said to store well[8], it certainly hangs well on the plants and we have picked very delicious fruits in late October[K]. Rich in vitamins[3], the fruit has been used to prevent scurvy[10]. Some caution is advised since the raw fruit is said to be laxative in large quantities, though this is only if you are not used to eating this fruit[18][1][2][4]. Thorough cooking removes much of this laxative element[4]. Young leaves - raw or cooked[1]. The young shoots, as they emerge in spring, can be cooked and used as an asparagus substitute[16][18][1][2][4]. Root - cooked[18]. It should be soaked in alkaline water first to get rid of a disagreeable taste[18][1][2][4]. It can be eaten like potatoes or pickled[4].

Plant part
Fruit
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.

False spikenard was widely employed by several native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints[13]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism. The plant is contraceptive and haemostatic[10][13]. A decoction is used in the treatment of coughs and the spitting up of blood[13]. Half a cup of leaf tea drunk daily for a week by a woman is said to prevent conception[10][13]. a poultice of the crushed fresh leaves is applied to bleeding cuts[13]. A tea made from the roots is drunk to regulate menstrual disorders[10]. The root is analgesic, antirheumatic, appetizer, blood purifier, cathartic and tonic[13]. A decoction is said to be a very strong medicine, it is used for treating rheumatism and kidney problems and, when taken several times a day it has been used successfully in treating cancer and heart complaints[13]. The fumes from a burning root have been inhaled to treat headaches and general body pain[13]. The fumes have also been used to restore an unconscious patient and to bring an insane person back to normal[13]. The dried powdered root has been used in treating wounds[10]. A poultice of the root has been applied to the severed umbilical cord of a child in order to speed the healing process and is also used to treat cuts, swellings etc[13]. A cold infusion of the root is used as a wash for sore eyes[13].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Contraceptive
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Haemostatic
Product or use
Kidney
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

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

Plants can be grown as a ground cover when planted about 45cm apart each way[9].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
N. America - British Columbia to Nova Scotia, south to Georgia and Missouri.
Habitat
Moist coniferous and deciduous woods, clearings and bluffs[14][17][5], preferring shaded streamsides[2].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
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. The seed can be very slow to germinate, often taking 18 months. Stored seed should be sown in a cold frame as soon as possible, it may take 2 years or longer to germinate. Grow the seedlings on in a shady part of a greenhouse for their first year without pricking them out, giving them liquid or foliar feeds as required to ensure that they do not become nutrient deficient. Divide the young plants up into individual pots in the autumn when they are dormant, and grow them on for at least another year in a shady part of the greenhouse. When the plants have reached a sufficient size, plant them out in the autumn whilst they are dormant. Division in spring or early autumn. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Cultivation

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

An easy plant to grow[11], it requires a deep fertile humus rich moisture retentive soil, neutral to slightly acid, that does not dry out in the growing season, and a shady position[7]. Requires a lime-free soil[11]. It does well in a woodland garden[7]. Hardy to about -20°c[7]. Plants take a few years to become established[9]. The flowers have a gentle sweet perfume[12].

References

  1. Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  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↩4↩5↩6↩7

  5. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

  9. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  10. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  12. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  13. 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

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  16. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  18. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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