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Parnassia palustris - L.

Common Name Grass Of Parnassus, Marsh grass of Parnassus, Mountain grass of Parnassus, Alaska grass of Parnass
Family Parnassiaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Wet moorland, marshes and raised bogs to quite a high altitude[7, 17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, Greece and temperate Asia.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Parnassia palustris Grass Of Parnassus,  Marsh grass of Parnassus,  Mountain grass of Parnassus, Alaska grass of Parnass


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parnassia_palustris_L.jpg
Parnassia palustris Grass Of Parnassus,  Marsh grass of Parnassus,  Mountain grass of Parnassus, Alaska grass of Parnass
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Albert_H.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Parnassia palustris is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

None known

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.
Astringent  Diuretic  Ophthalmic  Sedative  Tonic  Vulnerary

The whole plant is astringent, slightly diuretic, sedative, tonic and vulnerary[7, 9]. A decoction is occasionally used as a mouthwash in the treatment of stomatitis[7]. The dried and powdered plant can be sprinkled onto wounds to aid the healing process[7]. The plant is harvested in the summer or autumn and can be dried for later use[7]. A distilled water made from the plant is an excellent astringent eye lotion[7].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

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Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
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PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
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PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in moist peaty soils or in spongy bogs[1]. Requires an alkaline soil[200]. Plants can be naturalized in marshy grass[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow as soon as it is ripe in late autumn in a cold frame in pots of soil that are standing in shallow water. 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. Division in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, China (Hebei Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Jilin Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Ningxia Huizi Zizhiqu, Shanxi Sheng, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu (north)), Korea TROPICAL ASIA: India (Jammu and Kashmir) NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia), United States (Alaska, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France AFRICA: Algeria, Morocco

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
Parnassia cabulica Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM02 

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.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Genyphyr   Sun Apr 6 2008

Flickr photos Parnassie des Marais -- a very good photo of this plant

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