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Lithospermum incisum
  • Narrow-Leaf Gromwell

a perennial member of the Lithospermum genus in the family Boraginaceae.

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
  • neutral,alkaline
    Neutral to Alkaline
    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
Lithospermum incisum has 0 edible uses listed
Lithospermum incisum has 0 material uses listed
Lithospermum incisum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Root - cooked[1][2][3][4]. Eaten boiled or roasted[5]. The root has been used to make a tea[5].

Root

Unknown use

Unknown part

Tea

Material uses

The dried plant tops have been burnt as an incense[5].

A blue dye has been obtained from the roots[5]. A red dye is obtained from the roots[6]. It is quite possible that both colours can be obtained, depending on the mordant used[K].

The seeds have been used as beads[5].

Unknown part

Beads
Dye
Incense

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The root has been chewed by some native North American Indian tribes as a treatment for colds[7].

The finely powdered leaves, root and stem have been rubbed on the body in the treatment of paralyzed limbs[5]. An infusion of the root has been used in the treatment of stomach aches and kidney problems[5]. The plant has been eaten as an oral contraceptive and also as a treatment for lung haemorrhages, coughs and colds[5]. A cold infusion of the pulverized root and seed has been used as an eyewash[5].

This plant was used as a medicine by various native North American Indian tribes and interest in the plant has revived recently as a possible source of modern drugs[4]. No more details are given.

Unknown part

Contraceptive
Kidney
Miscellany
Ophthalmic
Pectoral
Stomachic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. 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.

Cuttings.

Division.

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



Cultivation

Requires a warm sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained soil[8][9]. Dislikes acid soils[8]. After producing large, conspicuous flowers in the spring, the plant produces lots of small very fertile cleistogamous flowers[6].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Lithospermum incisum. 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 Lithospermum incisum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Lithospermum incisum
Genus
Lithospermum
Family
Boraginaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5]
Medicinal uses
[7][5][4]
Material uses & Functions
[5][6]
Botanic
[10][9][6]
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
neutral, alkaline
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
    0.3 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
    3. ? 3.03.1 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press ISBN 63-7093 (1963-00-00)
    5. ? 5.005.015.025.035.045.055.065.075.085.095.105.11 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J [Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas] Botanical Research Institute, Texas. (1999-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    10. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-43


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    Facts about "Lithospermum incisum"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyBoraginaceae +
    Belongs to genusLithospermum +
    Has common nameNarrow-Leaf Gromwell +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partRoot + and Unknown part +
    Has edible useUnknown use + and Tea +
    Has fertility typeInsects +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone3 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useBeads +, Dye + and Incense +
    Has mature height0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useContraceptive +, Kidney +, Miscellany +, Ophthalmic +, Pectoral + and Stomachic +
    Has search namelithospermum incisum + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceNeutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameLithospermum incisum +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +