The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.

Common Name: Water Dropwort

General Information

Oenanthe sarmentosa is a perennial plant that can grow up to 1.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus that contains a number of very poisonous plants and so some caution is advised. It is said to contain the alleged 'psychotroph' myristicine[].

Botanical References

Range

Western N. America - British Columbia to California.

Habitat

Low wet places[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a moist or wet fertile soil in a sunny position.
Plants have a weak straggling growth habit[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[, ]. A sweet farinaceous flesh, the root is highly esteemed in the areas where it is eaten[, , ]. A cream-like taste when boiled with a slight parsley flavour[]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
Young stem - raw or cooked[, ].

Medicinal

The roots are emetic and purgative[]. The roots have been crushed then swallowed by a pregnant woman in order to facilitate and speed up delivery[].

Other Uses

Whistles can be made from the hollow stems[, ].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring or autumn. Large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.