Common Name: Yerba Mansa

General Information

Anemopsis californica is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing a clump of unbranched stems 8 - 80cm tall from a stoloniferous rootstock[].The plant can spread at the roots and form extensive colonies.
The plant was widely employed by the Native Americans to treat a variety of complaints, and was also sometimes gathered for use as a food. It is little used at present. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

South-western N. America - Oregon, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, northwest Mexico.

Habitat

Wet, especially somewhat alkaline or saline marshy places; at elevation below 2,000 metres[, , ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are hardy to about -5 to -10°c, and are probably hardiest when the rootstock is submerged[]. Another report says that they are hardy to about -15°c[].
Requires shallow water or a wet muddy site in a humus-rich alkaline medium[]. Requires a warm position[].

Edible Uses

Root - raw or cooked[]. An aromatic flavour[]. The peppery aromatic root is astringent and is chewed raw for medicinal purposes[].

The pulverized seeds are made into bread or cooked as a mush[].

Medicinal

Yerba mansa was widely employed by the native North Americans to treat a wide variety of complaints[]. It is little used in modern herbalism.
The whole plant is analgesic, antiperiodic, antiphlogistic, blood purifier, disinfectant, diuretic, laxative, stomachic and vulnerary. An infusion of the plant is used in the treatment of colds, chest congestion and stomach ulcers[].
Applied externally, the dried and powdered plant is used as a disinfectant on wounds whilst the fresh moist leaves are used as a poultice or salve on burns, cuts and wounds[]. The plant is infused and used to bathe aching muscles and sore feet[, , , , , , ].

The root is chewed as a treatment for affections of the mucous membranes[]. A tea made from the root is used as a blood purifier and general pain remedy, and as a treatment for pleurisy, gonorrhoea, syphilis and menstrual cramps[, ].

An infusion of the bark is used as a wash for open sores[].

The plant is used in homeopathy, particularly in the treatment of catarrh, but also useful in treating cuts, bruises and sprains; as a diuretic in treating malaria; and for promoting digestion[].

Other Uses

Beads can be made from the rootstock[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the summer. Stand the pots in about 3cm of water and germination should take place in about 5 weeks[]. Sow stored seed in a cold frame in the spring[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. making sure you keep the compost wet. Plant them out in late spring or early summer.
Division in spring[].