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Lomatium cous - (Watson.)Coult.&Rose.

Common Name Biscuitroot, Cous biscuitroot
Family Apiaceae or Umbelliferae
USDA hardiness 5-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry often open rocky slopes and flats, often with sagebrush, especially in foothills and lowland, occasionally above the treeline[60].
Range Western N. America.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Lomatium cous Biscuitroot, Cous biscuitroot


http://www.fs.fed.us
Lomatium cous Biscuitroot, Cous biscuitroot
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jim-sf/

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Lomatium cous is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

L. montanum. Coult.&Rose.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root  Seed
Edible Uses:

Root - raw or cooked[257. It is usually peeled before being eaten[257]. The root can be dried and ground into a powder and then be mixed with cereal flours or added as a flavouring to soups etc[46, 61, 95, 105]. When dug up in the spring it has a parsnip-like flavour[161]. Seed[106]. No more details are given, though it is most likely used as an aromatic flavouring in cooked foods[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in much of the country. It can be assumed that plants will require a dry to moist but well-drained soil in a sunny position. Polymorphic[60]. This is a taxonomically very difficult genus, many of the species now included in it have at times been included in other genera[60]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is a tap root similar to a carrot going directly down [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed can be rather slow to germinate, when sown in the spring it usually takes at least 12 months to germinate. Giving it a period of cold stratification might reduce this time. The seedlings need to be pricked out into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle, and should be planted out into their permanent positions in the summer. Fresh seed can be sown immediately in situ. Division may be possible in spring or autumn.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Desert parsley, Cous, Biscuitroot

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Lomatium ambiguumBiscuitroot, Wyeth biscuitrootPerennial0.8 0-0  LMHNDM41 
Lomatium canbyiBiscuitroot, Canby's biscuitrootPerennial0.0 0-0  LMHNDM40 
Lomatium dissectumFernleaf Biscuitroot, Carrotleaf biscuitrootPerennial1.4 6-10  LMHNDM422
Lomatium eurycarpum Perennial0.0 -  LMHNDM20 
Lomatium farinosumNorthern Biscuitroot, Hamblen's biscuitrootPerennial0.0 0-0  LMHNDM30 
Lomatium foeniculaceumDesert Biscuitroot, Inyo biscuitroot, Macdougal's biscuitrootPerennial0.2 0-0  LMHNDM30 
Lomatium gayeriBiscuitrootPerennial0.5 -  LMHNDM40 
Lomatium gormaniiGorman's biscuitrootPerennial0.2 0-0  LMHNDM30 
Lomatium grayiBiscuitroot, Gray's biscuitrootPerennial0.5 0-0  LMHNDM40 
Lomatium macrocarpumBigseed BiscuitrootPerennial0.5 5-10  LMHNDM422
Lomatium nudicaulePestle Parsnip, Barestem biscuitrootPerennial0.6 6-8  LMHNDM422
Lomatium triternatumNineleaf Biscuitroot, Broadnineleaf biscuitrootPerennial0.8 0-0  LMHNDM311
Lomatium utriculatumCommon LomatiumPerennial0.0 -  LMHNDM31 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

(Watson.)Coult.&Rose.

Botanical References

60

Links / References

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