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Streptopus roseus

Common name:	Scootberry	Family:	Convallariaceae
Author:	Michx.	Botanical references:	60, 200
Synonyms:	Streptopus longipes (Fernald.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Georgia and Michigan.
Habitat:	Moist woods, river banks, alder thickets[172]. Damp montane woods, 9000 - 1800 metres[60].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	4	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	S. lanceolatus var. roseus[B,P]
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	roseus = rose colored;

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.5m by 0.3m . It is hardy to zone 3. It is in flower from May to July, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 4/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, Deep Shade.

Edible Uses

Fruit; Leaves.

Young leaves and shoots are added to salads to impart a cucumber flavour[183]. They can also be cooked and used as greens[172, 257].
Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweetish flavour[207], though it is said to be cathartic if eaten in quantity[183, 207], especially if you have not eaten this fruit before[K]. A watermelon flavour[172]. The fruit is about 12mm in diameter[235].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Cathartic; Diaphoretic; Ophthalmic; Pectoral; Tonic; Women's complaints.

The fruit is cathartic[172, 207].
An infusion of the roots has been used in the treatment of a fallen womb[257]. A cough syrup can be made from the root[257]. A poultice of the steeped root has been applied to the eyes in the treatment of sties[257].
The flowers are diaphoretic[257]. They can be used to induce sweating in the treatment of colds and fevers.
The plant is tonic[257]. An infusion of the plant has been used in the treatment of coughs[257].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Requires a cool leafy soil in shade or partial shade[187]. Thrives in a moist light soil containing organic matter[1].
Hardy to at least -20°c.
A very ornamental plant[1].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the summer[200]. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as soon as it is received. The seed, especially if it has been stored, can be very slow to germinate, sometimes taking 18 months or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a shady part of the greenhouse or cold frame. It will normally take 2 or more growing seasons before the roots are large enough to plant out - this is best done when the plant is dormant in the autumn.
Division as the plant comes into growth in early spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first year, planting them out in the following spring.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Streptopus lanceolatus var. roseus (a possible synonym).

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[60] Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955
A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader.

[172] Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
A nice guide to some useful plants in that area.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[187] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[207] Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6
A nice read, lots of information on plant uses.

[235] Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970 ISBN 0-486-22642-5
Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

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Bibliography

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.