Perideridia
Encyclopedia
Perideridia is a small genus of plants in the parsley family
. Plants in this genus are known generally as yampah or yampa. They are native to western North America. Similar in appearance to other plants belonging to the family Apiaceae
, they have umbel
s of white flowers.
family, and are tall (1–3 feet) and grasslike, with threadlike leaves 1–6 inches long that resemble blades of grass. The plants effectively mimic tall grass and are virtually invisible until they flower, since they tend to grow in grassy meadows, and prefer full sunlight. Like most members of the parsley family, Yampa produces umbels of white flowers. The small roots of Yampa are about the size of a large unshelled peanut.
The plants are widely distributed in moist open meadows and hillsides up to 7500 feet (2,286 m) across Western North America and Northern Mexico.
) was an important staple crop of Native Americans in Western North America, and was relished by American Indians to the point the plants were over-harvested to extinction in many areas. The nutlike roots of the plant are crunchy and mildly sweet, and resemble in texture and flavor water chestnuts.
Yampa roots were either baked or steamed, and were reported to have excellent flavor and nutritional qualities. The seeds of Yampa were used as a seasoning and resemble caraway seeds in flavor. Yampa roots contain rapidly assimilatable carbohydrates, and were used by hunters and runners as a high energy food to enhance physical endurance.
Uncooked Yampa roots are a gentle laxative if consumed in excess and were used medicinally for this purpose.
Apiaceae
The Apiaceae , commonly known as carrot or parsley family, is a group of mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems. The family is large, with more than 3,700 species spread across 434 genera, it is the sixteenth largest family of flowering plants...
. Plants in this genus are known generally as yampah or yampa. They are native to western North America. Similar in appearance to other plants belonging to the family Apiaceae
Apiaceae
The Apiaceae , commonly known as carrot or parsley family, is a group of mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems. The family is large, with more than 3,700 species spread across 434 genera, it is the sixteenth largest family of flowering plants...
, they have umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
s of white flowers.
Description and habitat
The plants have a unique appearance for members of the parsleyParsley
Parsley is a species of Petroselinum in the family Apiaceae, native to the central Mediterranean region , naturalized elsewhere in Europe, and widely cultivated as an herb, a spice and a vegetable.- Description :Garden parsley is a bright green hairless biennial herbaceous plant in temperate...
family, and are tall (1–3 feet) and grasslike, with threadlike leaves 1–6 inches long that resemble blades of grass. The plants effectively mimic tall grass and are virtually invisible until they flower, since they tend to grow in grassy meadows, and prefer full sunlight. Like most members of the parsley family, Yampa produces umbels of white flowers. The small roots of Yampa are about the size of a large unshelled peanut.
The plants are widely distributed in moist open meadows and hillsides up to 7500 feet (2,286 m) across Western North America and Northern Mexico.
Uses
Yampa (Perideridia gairdneriPerideridia gairdneri
Perideridia gairdneri is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names common yampah and Gardner's yampah. It is native to western North America from southwestern Canada to California to New Mexico, where it grows in many types of habitat...
) was an important staple crop of Native Americans in Western North America, and was relished by American Indians to the point the plants were over-harvested to extinction in many areas. The nutlike roots of the plant are crunchy and mildly sweet, and resemble in texture and flavor water chestnuts.
Yampa roots were either baked or steamed, and were reported to have excellent flavor and nutritional qualities. The seeds of Yampa were used as a seasoning and resemble caraway seeds in flavor. Yampa roots contain rapidly assimilatable carbohydrates, and were used by hunters and runners as a high energy food to enhance physical endurance.
Uncooked Yampa roots are a gentle laxative if consumed in excess and were used medicinally for this purpose.
Selected species
- Perideridia americana – eastern yampah
- Perideridia bacigalupiiPerideridia bacigalupiiPerideridia bacigalupii is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names Mother Lode yampah and Bacigalupi's perideridia. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the northern and central Sierra Nevada foothills. It is a member of the flora in...
– Mother Lode yampah, Bacigalupi's yampah - Perideridia bolanderiPerideridia bolanderiPerideridia bolanderi is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Bolander's yampah. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in many types of habitat. It is a perennial herb which may approach one meter in maximum height, its slender, erect stem...
– Bolander's yampah - Perideridia californicaPerideridia californicaPerideridia californica is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name California yampah. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the Central Coast Ranges and a section of the Sierra Nevada foothills. It grows in moist soils, often near streams...
– California yampah - Perideridia erythrorhizaPerideridia erythrorhizaPerideridia erythrorhiza is a rare species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names western yampah and redroot yampah. It is endemic to Oregon in the United States, where there are about 20 occurrences. The populations occur in three regions in southwestern Oregon which are...
– redroot yampah, western yampah - Perideridia gairdneriPerideridia gairdneriPerideridia gairdneri is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names common yampah and Gardner's yampah. It is native to western North America from southwestern Canada to California to New Mexico, where it grows in many types of habitat...
– Gardner's yampah, common yampah, Indian caraway - Perideridia howelliiPerideridia howelliiPerideridia howellii is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Howell's yampah. It is native to the mountains of Oregon and northern California, where it grows in moist soils, often near streams and rivers...
– Howell's yampah - Perideridia kelloggiiPerideridia kelloggiiPerideridia kelloggii is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Kellogg's yampah. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the north and central coasts, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Sierra Nevada foothills. It grows in grassland habitat,...
– Kellogg's yampah - Perideridia lemmoniiPerideridia lemmoniiPerideridia lemmonii is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Lemmon's yampah. It is native to the western United States, where it is known from southeastern Oregon, western Nevada, and the mountains of eastern California. It grows in meadows, forests, and other...
– Lemmon's yampah - Perideridia leptocarpa – narrowseed yampah
- Perideridia oreganaPerideridia oreganaPerideridia oregana is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Oregon yampah. It is native to Oregon and California in the western United States, where it grows in woodland and other habitat. This plant is quite variable in appearance...
– Oregon yampah, squaw potato - Perideridia parishiiPerideridia parishiiPerideridia parishii is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Parish's yampah. It is native to mountainous regions of the southwestern United States, where it grows in forests and other habitat. It is a perennial herb growing up to 90 centimeters tall, its...
– Parish's yampah, Sierra Queen Anne's lace - Perideridia pringlei – adobe yampah