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Hedysarum hedysaroides - (L.)Schinz.&Thell.

Common Name Alpine French Honeysuckle
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Gravel river bars, roadsides, rocky hills and meadows, 1200 - 2500 metres in the Alps[172, 187].
Range S. and C. Europe, Arctic Russia and Western N. America.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Hedysarum hedysaroides Alpine French Honeysuckle


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Hedysarum_hedisaroides0.jpg
Hedysarum hedysaroides Alpine French Honeysuckle
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Selso

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Hedysarum hedysaroides is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
It can fix Nitrogen.
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 moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

H. obscurum.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Root - raw or cooked. Sweet and highly nutritious. Harvested from late autumn to spring, it is sweetened by frost[172].

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

Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in ordinary garden soil that is moist in summer[187] and a sunny position[1], preferring a deep well-drained sandy loam[1, 200]. This species is hardy to about -20°c[187]. Plants strongly resent root disturbance and should be placed in their permanent positions as soon as possible[1]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[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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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe or in the spring[200]. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Division in spring. Great care is needed since the plant dislikes root disturbance[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan) EUROPE: Czechoslovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Former Yugoslavia, Italy (north), Romania, Spain (northeast), France

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
Hedysarum alpinumAlpine SweetvetchPerennial0.6 4-8  LMHNM30 
Hedysarum arcticum Perennial0.3 -  LMHNM20 
Hedysarum borealeSweet Vetch, Utah sweetvetch, Northern sweetvetchPerennial0.1 3-7  LMHNM403
Hedysarum boreale mackenziiLiquorice RootPerennial0.1 3-7  LMHNM40 
Hedysarum occidentaleLiquorice Root, Western sweetvetchPerennial0.1 4-8  LMHNM40 
Hedysarum sachalinense Perennial0.5 -  LMHNM20 
Hedysarum vicioides Perennial0.7 3-7  LMHNM20 

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.)Schinz.&Thell.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

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Readers comment

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