Common Name: Woolly Wyethia

General Information

Wyethia mollis is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a relatively large taproot; the erect stems are usually around 30 - 40cm tall, occasionally reaching 100cm[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.

Known Hazards

One report suggests that the leaves might be poisonous[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

South-western N. America - Oregon, Nevada and California

Habitat

Dry wooded slopes and rocky openings; at elevations from 1,500 - 3,000 metres[]. Meadows, dry to wet, open sites, openings in conifer forests[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.35 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are not hardy in the colder areas of Britain[].
Requires a free-draining, gritty but moisture-retentive soil in a sunny position[]. This species is more tolerant of drought than other members of the genus[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked. A sweet and agreeable flavour[]. The Native North Americans dug pits in the ground which they lined with large stones. They then burnt a fire on top of the stones until the stones were hot. The roots were placed on these hot stones, sealed in with fern leaves and earth and then fermented for one or two days[].

Seed - raw or cooked[]. The seed can be used as a piñole, or it can be ground into a powder and used as a mush or mixed with cereals flours to make bread etc[].

Medicinal

The root is antiphlogistic, diaphoretic, emetic and febrifuge[, ]. A decoction has been used as a blood tonic and also in the treatment of tuberculosis, venereal diseases, colds and fevers[].
A poultice of the crushed roots has been applied to swellings[].

A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied to sprains, swellings and broken bones[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse or cold frame in early spring. Use a very freely-draining compost, prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out into their permanent positions when they are large enough.
Careful division of the crown as the plants come into growth in spring[].