Wyethia mollis
Woolly Wyethia
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Wyethia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- 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.
One report suggests that the leaves might be poisonous[4].
Edible uses
Root - cooked. A sweet and agreeable flavour[4]. The N. American Indians dug pits in the ground which they lined with large stones. They then burnt a fire on top of the stones until the stones were hot. The roots were placed on these hot stones, sealed in with fern leaves and earth and then fermented for one or two days[4]. Seed - raw or cooked[2]. The seed can be used as a piñole, or it can be ground into a powder and used as a mush or mixed with cereals flours to make bread etc[2].
- Plant part
- Root
- 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.
The root is antiphlogistic, diaphoretic, emetic and febrifuge[4][2]. A decoction has been used as a blood tonic and also in the treatment of tuberculosis, venereal diseases, colds and fevers[2]. A poultice of the crushed roots has been applied to swellings[2]. A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied to sprains, swellings and broken bones[2].
- Product or use
- Antiphlogistic
- Product or use
- Blood tonic
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Emetic
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Poultice
Environment
- Range
- South-western N. America - Oregon to California.
- Habitat
- Dry wooded slopes and rocky openings, 1500 - 3000 metres in California[3].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse or cold frame in early spring. Use a very freely-draining compost, prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out into their permanent positions when they are large enough. Careful division of the crown as the plants come into growth in spring[1].
Cultivation
Requires a free-draining, gritty but moisture-retentive soil in a sunny position[1]. This species is more tolerant of drought than other members of the genus[1]. Plants are not hardy in the colder areas of Britain[1].
References
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00
Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co. 1962-00-00 ISBN 0-911010-54-8