Cymopterus montanus

(Nutt.) Torr. & A. Gray

Mountain spring parsley

Apiaceae Edible: Root, Seeds, Stems, Leaves

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Summary

Perennial herb growing 0.2 m tall, hardy with hermaphrodite, self-fertile flowers pollinated by insects. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Grows in mildly acid to basic soils, cannot grow in shade, tolerates dry or moist soil.

Description

Edible Uses

The root is spindle-shaped and parsnip-like in form but considerably softer, sweeter, and more tender than an actual parsnip, and is used as a vegetable either raw or cooked. It can also be peeled, baked, dried, and ground into a powder for occasional use as a corn meal substitute. The seed is also edible, raw or cooked.

Traditional Uses

The young stems and leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The roots are peeled, baked and ground into a meal.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Mexico, North America, USA,

Propagation

No specific information is available for this species, but sowing seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe is recommended where possible. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible in a greenhouse. Seedlings should be pricked out into individual pots once large enough to handle and grown on under cover for at least their first winter, then planted into permanent positions in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn may also be possible.

Other Uses

None known

Also Known As

Gamote, Pastinaca de monte

References (5)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994) (As Phellopterus montanus)
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 257
Hermandez Bermejo, J.E., and Leon, J. (Eds.), 1994, Neglected Crops. 1492 from a different perspective. FAO Plant Production and Protection Series No 26. FAO, Rome. p 30 (As Phellopterus montanus)
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 290
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/