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Lewisia pygmaea
  • Pigmy Bitterroot

a perennial member of the Lewisia genus in the family Portulacaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral
    Acid to Neutral
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 3
    Zone 3
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Lewisia pygmaea has 0 edible uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Root - cooked. Steeped and boiled[1]. It can also be dried for later use[2]. The root is said to be extremely nutritious[3], though some native North American Indian tribes believed that eating it could cause insanity[2]. It is easiest to use when the plant is in flower because the outer layer of the root (which is very bitter) slips off easily at this time of the year[3]. The root has a good taste though a decided bitter flavour develops afterwards[4][5].

Root

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Lewisia pygmaea.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Lewisia pygmaea.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame in a very freely draining soil[6]. Sow stored seed as soon as possible in a cold frame. One months cold stratification should improve germination, though this is still likely to be very slow. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in March/April. Very difficult.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Lewisia pygmaea. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a very well-drained gritty humus-rich deep soil in a sunny position[7][8]. Prefers a neutral to acid soil[9].

This species is not reliably hardy in Britain. It can withstand consistently very cold weather but does not like alternating periods of mild and cold conditions, nor does it like winter wet[7]. The plant is very susceptible to rotting at the neck in a damp soil[8]. Plants die down after flowering and start growing again in the autumn[9]. A very ornamental plant[7]. Polymorphic[10].

Very apt to hybridize with other members of this genus[7].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Lewisia pygmaea. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Lewisia pygmaea.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Lewisia pygmaea
Genus
Lewisia
Family
Portulacaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5]
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[10][8]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
3
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.1 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press ISBN 0-8623-0343-9 (1967-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
    6. ? ? Alpine Garden Society Bulletin. Volume 56. Alpine Garden Society ()
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press (1955-00-00)

    "image:Lewisia pygmaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Lewisia_pygmaea&oldid=78236"
    Facts about "Lewisia pygmaea"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyPortulacaceae +
    Belongs to genusLewisia +
    Has binomial nameLewisia pygmaea +
    Has common namePigmy Bitterroot +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partRoot +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone3 +
    Has imageLewisia pygmaea.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height0.1 +
    Has primary imageLewisia pygmaea.jpg +
    Has search namelewisia pygmaea + and pigmy bitterroot +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid + and Neutral +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameLewisia pygmaea +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Lewisia pygmaea +