Streptopus amplexifolius

'Twistedstalk'

[Ex. Šar Planina, Kosovo, Serbia]

Convallariaceae: an herbaceous perennial plant growing to 40–100cm tall. Found in wet sub-alpine woods. Moist woods and thickets. Rich moist coniferous and deciduous woods. The flowers are greenish-white and hang from axils on 1–2 cm thin kinked panicles, each flower with six white tepals, 9–15mm long. Blooming May-July. The leaves are alternate, oblong-lanceolate leaves 5–14cm long. The stems have a kink at each leaf axil giving the plants stem a "twisted" and wiry appearance. Native to Europe - Eastern Asia and North America - Alaska to North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan and New Mexico.

USES:

Streptopus amplexifolius was used as a food plant by Native Americans in Eastern North America and as a medicine. The plant was referred to by early settlers of Eastern and Western North America as "wild cucumber" and as "scoot berries" for the mildly laxative effects of the berries if they are eaten in excessive quantities. The shoots are sweet with a cucumber-like flavour. The berries are reported to be juicy and sweet, with a watermelon-like flavour.

The juice of the berries was used as a soothing treatment for burns by American Indians.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Cold-germinator. The sowing must be kept warm (about +18 to +22°C) and moist for the first 2–4 weeks. After this period the sowing must be kept at a cold temperature (between –4 and +4°C for another 4–6 weeks. Colder temperatures of –5°C could be advantageous. After this cooling-period the sowing may not be immediately exposed to high temperatures. The most effective temperatures are between +5 to +12°C [41 to 54°F], even if germination has started. The best location for this sowing, even in March, April and May, is the open field, the cold frame or a cold greenhouse.

Requires a cool leafy soil in shade or partial shade. Thrives in a moist light soil containing organic matter. Hardy to at least -20°C.

NOTE: Seeds can be very slow to germinate, sometimes taking 18 months or more, so don’t give up soon.

HARVESTED:

APPROX. 20 SEEDS [Limited seeds available!]