Osmorhiza
| Sweet Cicely | |
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| Osmorhiza claytonii | |
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| Genus: | Osmorhiza Raf. 1819
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Osmorhiza is a genus of North American and Asian perennial herbs, known generally as Sweet Cicely or Sweetroot. Osmorhiza longistylis was used by Native Americans to treat digestive disorders and as a wash for wounds.
The seeds of this plant have barbs on the end allowing them to stick to clothing, fur, or feathers.
Distribution
Sunny, moist ravines, roadbanks, and the edges of riparian areas, but never found in standing water . This plant is widespread and can be found in mountainous areas up to 8,500 feet from British Columbia south into the mountains of California and throughout the Rocky Mountains. These plants are very commonly found in stands of quaking aspen and require moist, well drained soils.
Unlike poison hemlock or water hemlock, highly toxic relatives in the parsely family which sweetroot resembles, sweetroot does not tolerate poorly drained soils and is usually found on moist hillsides with good drainage. Sweetroot is frequently found growing in the same habitat and side by side with Osha, a closely related medicinal plant in the parsley family. [1]
Identification
Sweetroot closely resembles both Water Hemlock and Baneberry. Sweetroot is taller than baneberry and has a strong anise-like "spicy celery" odor which is lacking in Baneberry. Water Hemlock has leaf veins which terminate in the notches between the leaf blades, and sweetroot has leaf veins which terminate on the tips of the leaves.
Sweetroot has large jet black seeds which are hooked on one end. Most species of Sweetroot lack the characteristic carrot-like taproot system typical of members of the parsley family. The roots of Sweetroot tend to be stringy and divided and more closely resemble a rhizome than a carrot-like taproot, hence the name Osmorhiza (Scented Root).
Both water hemlock and poison hemlock can both be found in areas of the Mountain West in North America growing in the same habitat with Sweetroot, but lack the strong anise-like odor of sweetroot. Given the high toxicity of poison hemlock and water hemlock, if the plant cannot be positively identified as sweetroot, it must be avoided or discarded. [1]
Uses and toxicity
Sweetroot has a strong, almost overpowering licorice or anise-like odor and flavor. The plant is a potent fungicide and is useful for treating fungal infections and has been clinically shown to stabilize blood sugar levels. A tea made from the plant was consumed and was also used by Native Americans as an external wash or douche to treat fungal infections of the digestive and reproductive systems. The root of the plant is very sweet and can be used as a sweetener. Native Americans refer to this plant as "licorice root" or "sweetroot".
Sweetroot and Osha both contain oxytoxin and should not be ingested or used by women who are nursing or pregnant. [1]
Species
- O. aristata
- O. chilensis (Mountain Sweetroot)
- O. berteroi (Tapering Sweetroot, Mountain Sweet Cicely)
- O. brachypoda (California Sweet Cicely)
- O. claytonii (Clayton's Sweetroot, Sweet Cicely)
- O. depauperata (Bluntseed Sweetroot)
- O. glabrata
- O. longistylis (American Sweet Cicely, Sweet Cicely, White Cicely, Longstyle Sweetroot, Aniseroot, Licorice Root, or Wild Anise)
- O. mexicana (Mexican Sweet Cicely)
- O. occidentalis (Western Sweetroot)
- O. purpurea (Purple Sweetroot)
Ref: USDA PLANTS database
External links
Media related to Osmorhiza at Wikimedia Commons