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Common Name:

General Information

Mertensia oblongifolia is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.30 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Western N. America.

Habitat

Open slopes and drier meadows, often amongst sagebrush, from the plains and foothills to moderate elevations in the mountains, occasionally to the alpine zone[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil with some shade[, ].
A rather difficult plant to grow, it is best in a moist position[].

Edible Uses

Flowers - raw[].
Leaves - raw or cooked[]. The leaves are rather hairy and are not so nice when eaten raw[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[, ]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible. Protect from direct sunlight[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division, with care, in early spring or autumn[].