ALPINE SWEET-VETCH
GENESIS NAME: Hedysarum alpinum
DISTRIBUTION: AK , ME , MI , MT , ND , NH , SD , VT , WY
SEASON: Blooms in June & July, but can last until late Roctober
MEDICAL USE: The sweetvetch root decoction is used in traditional medicine as an expectorant for treatment of coughing, bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis, as well as a sedative for treatment of nervous disorders, insomnia, epilepsy, heartache, and atherosclerosisPOISONOUS: The seeds are poisonous, especially when eaten raw. There is some evidence that the seeds of alpine sweetvetch are what poisoned Christopher McCandless, the subject of Jon Krakauer's popular book (made into a movie), Into the Wild.
EDIBILITY:
FEATURES: Alpine sweetvetch is an herbaceous, perennial legume. It produces numerous clumped stems from a branching caudex. Stems are erect and measure 8 to 30 inches (20-70 cm) tall [1,8,28,39,60]. Leaves are longer than they are wide, pinnately compound, and have an alternate arrangement. Leaves contain 9 to 31 leaflets that are 0.4 to 1 inch (10-35 mm) long and 5 to 10 mm wide [1,8,17,28,40]. Alpine sweetvetch produces showy flowers that are densely organized in a long raceme. Flowers can be 9 to 18 mm long and are often deflexed and spreading [1,18,39]. Alpine sweetvetch produces flat, indehiscent, pod fruits that are constricted between the seeds. There are typically 2 to 5 but sometimes as many as 9 constricted joints/pod and just one seed/joint. Pods can be 5 to 7 mm long and 3 to 5.5 mm wide [18,28,35,60]. Seeds are smooth and measure 3.5 to 4 mm long and 2 to 2.5 mm wide [28]. Two hundred seeds weigh approximately 1 gram
LEAVES: The green leaves tend to grow on the lower part of the stem. Their leaves are pointed oblong, and are spaced apart from each other on the stem
FRUITS: The fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe
DISTRIBUTION: AK , ME , MI , MT , ND , NH , SD , VT , WY
SEASON: Blooms in June & July, but can last until late Roctober
MEDICAL USE: The sweetvetch root decoction is used in traditional medicine as an expectorant for treatment of coughing, bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis, as well as a sedative for treatment of nervous disorders, insomnia, epilepsy, heartache, and atherosclerosisPOISONOUS: The seeds are poisonous, especially when eaten raw. There is some evidence that the seeds of alpine sweetvetch are what poisoned Christopher McCandless, the subject of Jon Krakauer's popular book (made into a movie), Into the Wild.
EDIBILITY:
FEATURES: Alpine sweetvetch is an herbaceous, perennial legume. It produces numerous clumped stems from a branching caudex. Stems are erect and measure 8 to 30 inches (20-70 cm) tall [1,8,28,39,60]. Leaves are longer than they are wide, pinnately compound, and have an alternate arrangement. Leaves contain 9 to 31 leaflets that are 0.4 to 1 inch (10-35 mm) long and 5 to 10 mm wide [1,8,17,28,40]. Alpine sweetvetch produces showy flowers that are densely organized in a long raceme. Flowers can be 9 to 18 mm long and are often deflexed and spreading [1,18,39]. Alpine sweetvetch produces flat, indehiscent, pod fruits that are constricted between the seeds. There are typically 2 to 5 but sometimes as many as 9 constricted joints/pod and just one seed/joint. Pods can be 5 to 7 mm long and 3 to 5.5 mm wide [18,28,35,60]. Seeds are smooth and measure 3.5 to 4 mm long and 2 to 2.5 mm wide [28]. Two hundred seeds weigh approximately 1 gram
LEAVES: The green leaves tend to grow on the lower part of the stem. Their leaves are pointed oblong, and are spaced apart from each other on the stem
FRUITS: The fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe
DESCRIPTION:
Several erect, branching stems rise 1 1/2-3 ft. from a woody crown. From the axils of pinnately compound leaves rise long, straight, dense clusters of pinkish-lavender, pea-like flowers.
Like other members of the pea family, this plant needs the presence of microorganisms that inhabit nodules on the plant's root system and produce nitrogen compounds necessary for the plant's survival.
Special Value to Native Bees (Recognized by pollination ecologists as attracting large numbers of native bees.)
Black bears consume the aboveground portions of alpine sweetvetch, and roots are consumed by grizzly bears.
Like other members of the pea family, this plant needs the presence of microorganisms that inhabit nodules on the plant's root system and produce nitrogen compounds necessary for the plant's survival.
Special Value to Native Bees (Recognized by pollination ecologists as attracting large numbers of native bees.)
Black bears consume the aboveground portions of alpine sweetvetch, and roots are consumed by grizzly bears.