Post by Graham on Jan 30, 2014 6:26:03 GMT -5
The passages to follow are an extracts from the same Burbanks article as in the Camas thread (you can find the source here). Burbank clearly thought Yampah was worth some attention, so who's up to the task.
The lilies and their allies are not the only wild plants with bulbs or roots that are edible and susceptible of improvement.
On the contrary there are several plants of different families that offer noteworthy possibilities in this direction.
There are, for example, tuberous varieties of the genus Carum, relatives of the caraway, that grow on the Pacific Coast, especially toward the Northwest, the roots of which are relished by the Indians.
One species in particular, called the epau potato, is dug in great quantities in the fall and stored for winter use. The roots are small, almost like those of the Ranunculus (cowslip, etc.), and are similar in form to the roots of the dahlia, though much smaller. They have a sweet, aromatic, and pleasant flavor. In different localities they vary a good deal in size and quality. There are places where the plant grows almost like grass, so that hardly a shovelful of dirt can be turned over without exposing numerous roots.
When brought under cultivation, the epau potato appears susceptible to the influences of its new surroundings. The roots increase greatly in size and in succulence.
I have gathered the seeds and roots of this plant, and have from time to time had seeds sent me from many localities, during the past fifteen years. The best seeds came from Idaho. Plants grown from seed sent from Idaho developed into herbs four feet in height, producing roots three to four times as large as most of the California Carums, and seeding quite as abundantly.
I have been able by selecting individual roots to improve the species known as Carum gairdneri quite rapidly. I have observed that when the blossoms are removed, so that no plant energy is required for the production of seeds, the roots are much larger. This is an interesting compensatory effect that illustrates the close correlation between the different parts of a plant, and in particular the reliance of the roots on the leaf system.
There are, as already stated, several species and numerous varieties of the plant that could be used for hybridizing purposes, and doubtless the tendency to variation could thus be accentuated.
A very large number of plants can be grown on a small piece of ground, and if the roots could be developed even to one fourth the size of those of the carrot, this would prove a very valuable addition to the list of garden plants. The roots are not only nutritious, but they have exquisite flavour even when raw; and they are improved by cooking.
I think the plant very well worthy of improvement and general cultivation.
THE EPAU POTATO
The lilies and their allies are not the only wild plants with bulbs or roots that are edible and susceptible of improvement.
On the contrary there are several plants of different families that offer noteworthy possibilities in this direction.
There are, for example, tuberous varieties of the genus Carum, relatives of the caraway, that grow on the Pacific Coast, especially toward the Northwest, the roots of which are relished by the Indians.
One species in particular, called the epau potato, is dug in great quantities in the fall and stored for winter use. The roots are small, almost like those of the Ranunculus (cowslip, etc.), and are similar in form to the roots of the dahlia, though much smaller. They have a sweet, aromatic, and pleasant flavor. In different localities they vary a good deal in size and quality. There are places where the plant grows almost like grass, so that hardly a shovelful of dirt can be turned over without exposing numerous roots.
When brought under cultivation, the epau potato appears susceptible to the influences of its new surroundings. The roots increase greatly in size and in succulence.
I have gathered the seeds and roots of this plant, and have from time to time had seeds sent me from many localities, during the past fifteen years. The best seeds came from Idaho. Plants grown from seed sent from Idaho developed into herbs four feet in height, producing roots three to four times as large as most of the California Carums, and seeding quite as abundantly.
I have been able by selecting individual roots to improve the species known as Carum gairdneri quite rapidly. I have observed that when the blossoms are removed, so that no plant energy is required for the production of seeds, the roots are much larger. This is an interesting compensatory effect that illustrates the close correlation between the different parts of a plant, and in particular the reliance of the roots on the leaf system.
There are, as already stated, several species and numerous varieties of the plant that could be used for hybridizing purposes, and doubtless the tendency to variation could thus be accentuated.
A very large number of plants can be grown on a small piece of ground, and if the roots could be developed even to one fourth the size of those of the carrot, this would prove a very valuable addition to the list of garden plants. The roots are not only nutritious, but they have exquisite flavour even when raw; and they are improved by cooking.
I think the plant very well worthy of improvement and general cultivation.
