Osha – Ligusticum porteri, L. spp.

  • Osha. [Date Accessed: July 15, 2008].

 

Nomenclature:

  • Ligusticum porteri, L. spp.
  • Family: Apiaceae

 

Botany and Ecology:

  • Grows in damp ground in sagebrush, oak, aspen, Douglas fir, spruce, fir, and occasionally in open forb-grass communities at 6,700-12,000ft
  • Height: 30” to 40”
  • Flower size: 1/8”
  • Flower color: White
  • The root is harvested in the autumn and can be used fresh or dried
  • Propagation: The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame in the autumn. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible in a greenhouse or cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer if they have grown large enough. Otherwise, keep them in a cold frame for the first winter and plant them out in early summer.
  • Distribution: United States: AZ, CO, ID, NM, NV, UT, WY

 

Uses:

·        Edible:

o       The leaves are used as a flavoring, a celery substitute

  • Medicinal:

o       Antirheumatic; Antispasmodic; Diaphoretic;

o       Diuretic; Expectorant; Febrifuge;

o       Kidney; Stomachic; TB; Uterine tonic.

o       They are used internally in the treatment of eruptive fevers, bronchial infections, digestive complaints, toothache, painful menstruation and retained placenta

 

Conservation:

·        Conservation status: Vulnerable – If present demands for Ligusticum porteri continue or increase then it is very likely this plant will face extirpation.

·        http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Ligusticum%20porteri. [Date Accessed: July 15, 2008].

 

Markets and Vendors:

·        Bouncing Bear Botanicals. [n.d.]. Ligusticum porteri. http://www.bouncingbearbotanicals.com/osha-root-p-493.html. [Date Accessed: July 28, 2008].

·        Powwows. [n.d.]. Ligusticum porteri. http://www.powwows.com/gathering/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=1315&cat=14&limit=views&date=1091665519. [Date Accessed: July 28, 2008].

·        Feel Good Natural. [n.d.]. Ligusticum porteri. http://www.feelgoodnatural.com/catalogue/HERBIES519.html. [Date Accessed: July 28, 2008].

 

Sources:

·        Plants for a Future. 2002. http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Ligusticum+porteri. [Date Accessed: July 15, 2008].

·        Nature Serve. 2008. NatureServe Explorer. An online encyclopedia of life [web application. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Ligusticum porteri. [Date Accessed: July 15, 2008].

·        Denver Plants. 2003. http://www.denverplants.com/wflwr/html/ligus_por.htm. [Date Accessed: July 15, 2008].