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Herbs & Plants

Helianthus cusickii

Botanical Name: Helianthus cusickii
Family: Asteraceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Genus: Helianthus

Common Names: Cusick’s sunflower, Turniproot sunflower.

Habitat : Helianthus cusickii is native to the western United States from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, northern California, and northwestern Nevada. IIt grows in mountain forests and foothills.

Description:
Helianthus cusickii is a perennial flowering plant ,. It grows up to 120 cm (4 feet) tall, growing from a thick, fleshy taproot. The lance-shaped leaves reach 15 centimeters (6 inches) in length, and the stem and foliage are often covered in long hairs. The flower heads have a base of long, hairy green phyllaries. The center of the head is filled with at least 40 yellow disc florets surrounded by 12–16 ray florets.

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Cultivation:
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Climate: cold to warm temperate. Humidity: arid to semi-arid. A perennial wildflower herb. Poor soils. Flowering Time: Late Spring, Early Summer. Cultivation: under development. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation)

Propagation: Through Seeds.

Edible Uses:
Edible Portion: Seeds, Roots. The roots are peeled and eaten raw. Carbon Farming Solutions – Staple Crop: protein-oil (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people’s diets in a particular region of the world) . Perennial crops are being developed for their oil-seed. The Land Institute see them as part of a perennial polyculture system. Helianthus cusickii is an arid US western mountain species not tolerant of boreal conditions but grows on poor soils .

Medicinal Uses: The root was used by US Plateau Indian tribes to treat erectile dysfunction, wasting, and tuberculosis. The tender leaf petioles, seeds are used in the treatment of a variety of ailments. Leaves are expectorant, diuretic and astringent. The intake of Sunflower leaf tea helps to reduce fever.


Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.


Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helianthus_cusickii#:~:text=Helianthus%20cusickii%20is%20a%20species%20of%20sunflower%20known,Oregon%2C%20Idaho%2C%20northern%20California%2C%20and%20northwestern%20Nevada.%20
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Helianthus+cusickii

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