Edible and Medicinal Roots of Missouri

When most people think about root vegetables, recognizable favorites like potatoes, carrots, onions, and so on are usually the first things that come to mind. However, the variety and utility of root vegetables in nature is much broader than just these common standbys. In Missouri alone, there are many species of plants whose roots have been used by humans- for food and otherwise- throughout history. From the distant past to modern times, roots native to Missouri have seen a wide array of agricultural, medicinal, and even scientific uses. The roots that can be found in Missouri serve purposes from food to spice to muscle medication and soda flavoring, even seeing some use towards things such as cancer remedies.

Full List, Alphabetical

 

American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)

Habitat

American ginseng can primarily be found in the American Midwest, though it also grows in certain provinces of Eastern Canada.² It grows in deciduous forests, primarily in rich soil on North-or-East-facing hills.² ³

Uses

American ginseng has seen a long history of use as a medicinal root. It was harvested by Native Americans for its medicinal properties, and is now used as an ingredient in some Asian herbal medicines.² Ginseng is believed by some to have medicinal value as a panacea/cureall; though there has been much debate over its legitimacy, certain modern studies have pointed towards the efficacy of ginseng being real.⁴ As a result of this, American ginseng is frequently harvested in the United States for export.² The vast majority of this is exported to China.²

American ginseng is usually consumed powedered with food, or as a tea.⁴

Conservation

American ginseng is considered to be a vulnerable plant, and is protected by certain regulations under CITES – and therefore the federal govrnment.⁴ Ginseng may only be harvested if it is older than five years at least, and certain states require licenses and mandate set harvesting periods throughout the year.⁴

Identification

• All leaves occur at the top of a stem ²⁹
• Leaves are palmate compiund ²⁹
• Leaves possess 3-5 leaflets each ²⁹
• Flowers May-July: small green-white flowers
• In summer-fall, clusters of red berries are produced
• Plant will generally by <20″ in height

 

American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea)

Habitat

American lotus is generally found in stillwater ponds and lakes, especially those with muddy beds.⁷ ⁸ It can be found  all throughout Missouri.⁷

Uses

American Lotus roots were used by Native Americans for food.⁷

Conservation

The Missouri Department of Conservation recommends that American Lotus not be introduced to small ponds because of its rapid rate of reproduction.⁷

Identification

• The typical “lotus flower” – a single, large (~8″), pale-yellow flower, blooming June-September ⁸
• Flowers elevated above the water by one thick stalk ⁸
• Flowers possess 20+ petals
• Disk-shaped leaves that form a floating cup for the flower and fruit ⁸
• Grows its roots into mud ⁸
• Possesses “acornlike [seeds], anchored in deep pits.” ⁸

Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium)

Habitat

Black Haw is distributed throughout Missouri.⁹ It is usually found in rocky and dry areas, and grows best in full sun.⁹

Uses

In the past, rural Americans ate fruit from the Black Haw.⁹ In modern medicine, its use has been considered as a remedy for conditions and ailments including menstrual cramps¹⁰, and more generally as a muscle relaxant for conditions such as bronchial spasms.¹¹

Identification

Haw is difficult to identify, but the following characters are strong indicators:

• Opposite 1-3 inch long leaves ⁹
• Leaves elliptical ⁹
• Fine-toothed leaf margins ⁹
• Dull-green upper surface with pale, smooth underside ⁹
• Small white flowers, 2-4″ wide, visible April to May ⁹
• Small dark blue berries that fruit September-October ⁹

Carolina False Dandelion (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus)

Habitat

The False Dandelion is a weed that occurs throughout Missouri, and can grow in a wide variety of environments.¹²

Uses

The roots of the False Dandelion are edible, and were used for food by Native  Americans.¹²

Conservation

This plant is considered a weed / pest,¹² and given its widespread nature it is a major target for herbicide, which itself has important environmental implications.

Identification

• Blooms May–October ¹²
• Leaves gone by flowering season ¹²
• Few stem leaves that are alternate; up to 6″ in length ¹²
• “Fruits in dandelion-like puffball.” ¹²

Cattails (Typha latifolia)

Habitat

Cattails can be found throughout Missouri in swampy and marshy areas of water. ¹³

Uses

Several parts of the cattail are edible, but in particular, their roots can be made into a tasy jelly.¹³ Culturally speaking, cattails are also useful in the making of paper or roof material.¹³

Conservation

Cattails are a conservation threat: their rapid spreading and growth means that they have a tendency to choke out other plants in a water ecosystem, which is quite problematic.¹³ Moreover, they can grow in manmade sewer and stormwater drains, causing blockages.¹³

Identification

• Easily identifiable by their iconic “hotdog” flower on a thick central stalk ¹³

Three varieties exist, identified separately by their different leaf types:

• T. latifolia (common) – 1″ wide flat leaves; up  to 8′ in height ¹³
• T. angustifolia (narrow-leaved) – 1/2″ rounded leaves; up to 6′ in height. Angustifolia’s male and female spike sections are clearly separated. Female sections are “ark brown and ½-¾ inch in diameter” ¹³
• T. domingensis (southern) – less common in Missouri. Once again, male/female spike sections are clearly separate, but female spike sections are  “medium brown and ¾-1¼ inches in diameter” ¹³

Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

Habitat

Chicory is distrubed throughout Missouri and can successfully grow in many environments as a weed.¹⁴

Uses

Chicory is generally seen as weed, but actually is traditionally used as a flavoring for coffees.¹⁴ Chicory roots can be harvested for inulin,¹⁴ which is used as a dietary supplement to remedy constipation¹⁵ and more speculatively as an industrial diet supplment for pigs.¹⁶

Identification

• Firm-stemmed with angular branches ¹⁶
• Blue-white flowers that bloom from May to October ¹⁶
• Leaves shrink in size as they get further from the base ¹⁶
• “Milky latex” sap ¹⁶

Common Evening Primrose (Oenothora biennis)

Habitat

Common Evening Primrose can be found in many habitats all throughout Missouri, favoring open areas with exposed soil.¹⁷

Uses

The roots of the Evening Primrose are edible when cooked.¹⁷

Identification

• Brightly-colored yellow flowers with four rounded petals visible from June-October ¹⁷
• Alternate lanceolate, light-green leaves ¹⁷
• Leaves up to 6″ long ¹⁷
• Short or nonexistent petioles ¹⁷
• Grows up to 6′ in height ¹⁷

Greenbrier (Smilax glauca)

Habitat

Greenbrier occurs throughout much of Missouri, preferring places that are moist/wet such as swamps, streambanks, etc.¹⁸

Uses

The roots can be boiled into a concentrated liquid which can be used to make a beverage semblant of root beer.¹⁸ ¹⁹

Identification

There are eight varieties of smilax in Missouri, which are incredibly difficult to distinguish between.¹⁸  Interestingly, between these varieties, there are smilax plants that have woody stems as opposed to herbacious stems, an unusual trait for a monocot plant.¹⁸   According to the MDC, there are three main identifiers for smilax:

• White-waxy texture on the underside of leaves ¹⁸
• Stout, round stems ¹⁸
• Frequent spines on older stems ¹⁸

Jerusalem (Sunflower) Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)

Habitat

The Jerusalem Artichoke generally grows near streams, rivers, and in other areas or rich, disturbed soil.²⁰ It is common all throughout Missouri.²⁰

Uses

Jerusalem Artichoke is grown industrially as food and livestock feed.²⁰ It was also cultivated by Native Americans.²⁰

Identification

Jerusalem Artichoke is difficult to identify in comparison to other sunflowers because of its frequent interbreeding with them.²⁰ The MDC recommends that its leaves be used for identification:

• “[the leaves] are mostly opposite, but alternate in the upper third of the plant; also that the leaves are long, lanceolate, 3-veined, coarsely toothed, long-tapered at the base with winged petioles, and rough-hairy above, downy below.” ²⁰

Mayapple Mandrake (Podophyllum peltatum)

Habitat

Mayapple mandrake grows throughout Missouri and across the midwest United States.⁵ Mayapple mandrake typically grows in relatively open forests or in fields.⁵ It can grow in both wet and dry conditions.⁵

Uses

Mayapple mandrake is edible; its fruits can be made into a variety of food items.⁵ However, every other part of the plant is poisonous, and in some people even causes dermititis.⁵ According to multiple studies, the mayapple mandrake produces a natural compound which has applications in the treatment of certain cancers.⁵ ⁶

Identification

• Single flowers develop, and only on plants with two leaves ⁵
• Flowers bloom March to May, and are white (very rarely pink) up to 3″ across ⁵
• Flowers possess visible green pistils ⁵
• Up to 1′ wide leaves ⁵
• Up to 1.5′ tall ⁵
• Ovular pale-green fruit up to 2″ long ⁵

 

Orange Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)

Habitat

Found throughout Missouri in abandonded fields, pastures, and similar sites.²¹ It is immune to most diseases and not preyed on by most insects.²¹

Uses

Orange Daylily flowers are edible, and the roots can be eaten raw or cooked.²¹

Identification

• 3 sepals with 3 petals of orange color; slightly smaller sepals; blooms May-August ²¹
• Each flower lasts only one day ²¹
• Narrow hairless leaves of up to two feet in length ²¹

Prairie Blazing Star (Gayfeather) (Liatris pycnostachya)

Habitat

Occurs in most grassy open areas, spread throughout Missouri.²²

Uses

The roots are edible raw or cooked.²² Native Americans also used some varieties of Liatris medicinally.²²

Identification

• Mostly identifiable by its densely-packed and vibrantly purple flower, which blooms from July to October ²²
• Narrow leaves starting at 20 inches long and shortening up the stem ²²

Queen Anne’s Lace (Wild Carrot) (Daucus carota)

Habitat

Queen Anne’s Lace grows in most open areas of disturbed soil.²³

Uses

Queen Anne’s Lace is edible if it’s harvested young.²³ More importantly, it is the counterpart subspecies to domesticated carrots, making it incredibly closely related to a massively popular staple in modern agriculture.²³

Identification

• Grows into small white flowers in numerous bunches from May to October ²³
• Roots in a strong taproot ²³
• Branching stems ²³
• “Leaves pinnately divided into straplike leaflets (twice-compound)”  ²³

Sweet Cicely (Anise Root) (Osmorhiza claytonii / longistylis)

Habitat

Anise roots grow statewide in Missouri forest undergrowth.²⁴

Use

Anise roots are extremely important for their culinary usages; they can be substituted for anise oil.²⁴ Their aromatic properties are rich flavors make their excellent ingredients.

Identification

• Coarse-toothed lateral leaflets²⁴
• Carrot-like roots with heavy anise scent²⁴

Water Shield (Brasenia schreberi)

Habitat

Water shield typically grows in ponds and lakes throughout southeast Missouri.²⁵

Use

The roots of water shield were eaten by Native Americans.²⁵

Identification

• Ovalular floating leaves between 4-5″ in length ²⁵
• Thick jellylike undercovering ²⁵ 
• Small red-purple flowers on top.²⁵

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

Habitat

Wild ginger can be found throughout much of Missouri.²⁷ It usually grows in rich soil in forests or on riverbanks.²⁷

Use

Wild ginger roots can be used, like one might assume, as a substitute for ginger.²⁷ Moreover, wild ginger used to be used as a sort of cureall, though it has fallen out of popularity as a remedy with modern medicine.²⁷

Identification

• Ginger leaves usually hide their flowers; the flowers themselves are three-parted and red-purple, blooming from April to May ²⁷
• The plant grows low and is hairy ²⁷
• Large, heart-shaped leaves ²⁷
• Leaves are shiny and have a hairy surface ²⁷
• Up to 6″ in height ²⁷

Wild Potato Vine (Ipomoea pandurata)

Habitat

Wild potato vines can be found in wet soil: near lakes and streams, ditches, fields, and so on.²⁶ It is distributed throughout all of Missouri.²⁶

Use

Wild potato is, of course, a relative of potatoes that are cultivated agriculturally.²⁶ Its roots are edible,²⁶  though less appealing than most modern types of potatoes given that they have not been bred selectively.

Identification

• Trailing or climbing vine ²⁶
•  Flowers cluster in numberse between one and seven
• “Each flower on a long peduncle, funnel-shaped, to 3 inches long, white with a dark crimson or purple center.” ²⁶ These flowers bloom May to September ²⁶
• Heart-shaped, pointed leaves up to 6″ in size
• “Root a tuber to 2 feet long and weighing 20 pounds or more, often branched, leglike.” ²⁶

Sources

1. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Root.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 14 Feb. 2019.

2. “American Ginseng.” Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service.

3. “American Ginseng – Panax Quinquefolius.” United Plant Savers.

4. Burkhart, Eric, and Michael Jacobson. “American Ginseng.” Penn State Extension, 9 Nov. 2019.

5. “Mayapple.” MDC Discover Nature.

6. Poulette, Abigail. “Closer Look.” Organic Gardening, vol. 54, no. 4, May 2007, p. 80. EBSCOhost.

7. “American Lotus.” MDC Discover Nature.

8. “AquaPlant.” AquaPlant.

9. “Black Haw.” MDC Discover Nature.

10. Yarnell, Eric. “Herbal Medicine for Dysmenorrhea.” Alternative & Complementary Therapies, vol. 21, no. 5, Oct. 2015, pp. 224–228. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1089/act.2015.29024.eya.

11. Yarnell, Eric, and Kathy Abascal. “Spasmolytic Botanicals: Relaxing Smooth Muscle with Herbs.” Alternative & Complementary Therapies, vol. 17, no. 3, June 2011, pp. 169–174. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1089/act.2011.17305.

12. “Carolina False Dandelion.” MDC Discover Nature.

13. “Cattails.” MDC Discover Nature.

14. “Chicory.” MDC Discover Nature.

15. Micka, Antje, et al. “Effect of Consumption of Chicory Inulin on Bowel Function in Healthy Subjects with Constipation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.” International Journal of Food Sciences & Nutrition, vol. 68, no. 1, Feb. 2017, pp. 82–89. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/09637486.2016.1212819.

16. Rideout, T. C., et al. “Excretion of Major Odor-Causing and Acidifying Compounds in Response to Dietary Supplementation of Chicory Inulin in Growing Pigs.” Journal of Animal Science, vol. 82, no. 6, June 2004, pp. 1676–1684. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2527/2004.8261678x.

17. “Common Evening Primrose.” MDC Discover Nature.

18. “Greenbrier.” MDC Discover Nature.

19. Deane. “Smilax: A Brier And That’s No Bull.” Eat The Weeds and Other Things, Too, 19 Sept. 2017.

20. “Jerusalem Artichoke (Sunflower Artichoke).” MDC Discover Nature.

21. “Orange Day Lily.” MDC Discover Nature.

22. “Prairie Blazing Star (Gayfeather).” MDC Discover Nature.

23. “Queen Anne’s Lace (Wild Carrot).” MDC Discover Nature.

24. “Sweet Cicely (Anise Root).” MDC Discover Nature.

25. “Water Shield.” MDC Discover Nature.

26. “Wild Potato Vine.” MDC Discover Nature.

27. “Wild Ginger.” MDC Discover Nature.

28. “Plant Roots.” Basic Biology.

29. “American Ginseng.” MDC Discover Nature.