Osmorhiza longistylis - Aniseroot

Family:	Umbelliferae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.2
Synonyms:
Range:	Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Ontario, Alabama, Tennessee, Kansas and Colorado.

Osmorhiza longistylis (Aniseroot) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.2m . It has a hardness rating of 6.
Aniseroot will flower in December to January. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Aniseroot will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Aniseroot prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Aniseroot can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Rich, often alluvial woods and thickets[43].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any deep moisture-retentive soil in sun or dappled shade[200]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[200]. Well suited to naturalistic plantings in a woodland or wild garden[200]. A sweetly aromatic plant[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Root - raw or cooked. Very sweet, aromatic and fleshy[222]. A spicy flavour similar to anise, the roots are chewed, made into a tea or used as a flavouring[105, 171, 183]. Leaves and young shoots - raw. An anise flavour, they are added to salads[177, 183]. The green seeds have an anise flavour and are used as a flavouring in salads, the dry seeds are added to cakes etc[183].

• Condiment - the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.
• Leaves -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
• Tea - the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
A poultice of the roots are used in the treatment of boils and wounds[207, 222]. A tea made from the roots is stomachic[222]. It has been used in the treatment of stomach complaints, kidney problems, amenorrhoea, general debility, to ease childbirth and also to bathe sore eyes[222, 257].

• Birthing aid - Used in facilitating birth, but not just to cause uterine contrctions.
• Ophthalmic - Treats eye complaints.
• Poultice - A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
• Stomachic - Aids and improves the action of the stomach.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible, otherwise sow it in early spring. 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.

Scented parts of the plants

Leaves : Crushed

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Gray's Manual of Botany.
Fernald. M. L.
Author: Fernald. M. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
Date of Publication : 1950

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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