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Streptopus amplexifolius
  • Wild Cucumber

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

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
  • Partial sun
    Partial sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • permanent shade
    Permanent 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,alkaline
    Unknown
    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
  • 5
    Zone 5
    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
Streptopus amplexifolius has 3 edible uses listed
Streptopus amplexifolius has 1 material uses listed
Streptopus amplexifolius has 8 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - raw or cooked in soups and stews[1][2][3]. Juicy with a cucumber flavour[4], they are reported to be slightly cathartic when growing in certain areas only[4]. The fruit is laxative if eaten in large quantities according to another report[3]. The oval berry is up to 15mm long[5].

Tender young shoots - raw in salads or cooked like asparagus[6][4][7]. A cucumber-like flavour[3][4].

Root - raw. It is sometimes used in salads for its cucumber flavour[1][6][4].

Fruit

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Material uses

The plant has been tied to the clothes, body or hair and used as a scent[7].

Unknown part

Incense

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The fruit is cathartic[3][8].

An infusion of the stems and fruit has been used to treat 'sickness in general'[7]. The plant is tonic[7]. An infusion of the whole plant has been used to treat stomach complaints and loss of appetite[7]. A compound infusion of the plant has been used in the treatment of spitting up of blood, kidney problems and gonorrhoea[7]. The root has been chewed in order to induce labour in cases of protracted delay[7].

A compound infusion of the root has been used as an analgesic in the treatment of internal pain[7].

Unknown part

Analgesic
Appetizer
Cathartic
Haemostatic
Kidney
Oxytoxic
Stomachic
VD

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the summer[9]. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as soon as it is received. The seed, especially if it has been stored, can be very slow to germinate, sometimes taking 18 months or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a shady part of the greenhouse or cold frame. It will normally take 2 or more growing seasons before the roots are large enough to plant out - this is best done when the plant is dormant in the autumn. Division as the plant comes into growth in early spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first year, planting them out in the following spring.

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



Cultivation

Requires a cool leafy soil in shade or partial shade[10]. Thrives in a moist light soil containing organic matter[11].

Hardy to at least -20°c.

A polymorphic species, there are many sub-species[12].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Streptopus amplexifolius. 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 Streptopus amplexifolius.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Streptopus amplexifolius
Genus
Streptopus
Family
Convallariaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Medicinal uses
[3][8][7]
Material uses & Functions
[7]
Botanic
[12][13][9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
  • Fruit (Unknown use)
  • Leaves (Unknown use)
  • Root (Unknown use)
Material uses
  • Unknown part (Incense)
Medicinal uses
  • Unknown part (Analgesic)
  • Unknown part (Appetizer)
  • Unknown part (Cathartic)
  • Unknown part (Haemostatic)
  • Unknown part (Kidney)
  • Unknown part (Oxytoxic)
  • Unknown part (Stomachic)
  • Unknown part (VD)
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
partial sun
Shade
permanent shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
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
    1 x 0.3 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 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. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.5 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.5 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22642-5 (1970-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    7. ? 7.007.017.027.037.047.057.067.077.087.097.10 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    10. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (1991-00-00)
    11. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.1 Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)
    13. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)


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