Herb: Prince's Plume


Latin name: Stanleya pinnata


Synonyms: Stanleya pinnatifida


Family: Cruciferae



Medicinal use of Prince's Plume:

A decoction of the root has been used as a tonic to treat general debility after an illness. The pulped root can be placed on the gum or in a tooth cavity in order to relieve toothache. It can also be applied externally as a poultice to relieve earache and rheumatic pain. A poultice of the mashed root has been applied to the throat to treat throat pain and is also used to treat the congestion of diphtheria. A poultice of the plant has been applied to glandular swellings. The powdered plant has been applied as a specific to scraped syphilitic sores. A poultice of the freshly chewed seedpods has been used to treat itches.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
100 cm
(3 1/4 foot)

Flowering:
July to
September

Habitat of the herb:

Seleniferous soils, desert slopes and washes to 1500 metres.

Edible parts of Prince's Plume:

Seed - cooked. It is used as a piäole. The seed can be parched, ground into a powder and used as a mush. Young leaves and stems - cooked. A cabbage-like flavour, they can be quite bitter at first but changing the water once or more whilst cooking removes the bitterness. Used in the spring. Changing the water also removes many of the vitamins and minerals.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Germination should take place within 3 weeks. Pot up into individual pots as soon as the plants are big enough to handle in order to preserve the root system. Plant out in summer. Division in spring?

Cultivation of Prince's Plume:

Seleniferous soils, desert slopes and washes to 1500 metres.

Known hazards of Stanleya pinnata:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.