Polemonium reptans is a perennialherbaceous plant native to eastern North America. Common names include spreading Jacob's ladder, creeping Jacob's ladder, false Jacob's ladder, abscess root, American Greek valerian, blue bells, stairway to heaven, and sweatroot.
Jacob's ladder grows 50 centimetres (20 in) tall, with pinnate leaves up to 20 centimetres (8 in) long with 5–13 leaflets. The leaves and flower stems grow from a vertical crown with abundant fibrous roots.[1]
The flowers are produced in panicles on weak stems from mid to late spring. They are 1.3 cm (1⁄2 in) long and have five light blue-violet petals that are fused at the base, enclosed by a tubular calyx with five pointed lobes.[1] The pollen is white. The stigma extends beyond the anthers, making self-pollination difficult, so insects must cross-pollinate for the plants to produce seed.[2]
Pollinated flowers develop into an oval pod with three chambers, 6 mm (1⁄2 in) long, which is enclosed by the green calyx. The plant spreads by reseeding itself. The Latin specific epithet reptans means creeping.[3]
The flowers produce both pollen and nectar. Long- and short-tongued bees visit the plants for both nectar and pollen, syrphid flies and fire beetles (Pedilus lugubris) feed on pollen, and butterflies and moths drink nectar. Out of these insects, large bees are the most effective at cross-pollination, since they most often touch the pollen-covered anthers.[2]
Range and habitatedit
Polemonium reptans is typically found in rich, moist woods, often along streambanks.[4][5] Its range extends from Minnesota to New Hampshire in the north, and from Georgia to Mississippi in the south.[5] It is most abundant west of the Appalachian Mountains.[4][5]
The plant prefers partial shade and mesic soil. It tolerates full sun, but requires constantly moist soil.[2]
Usesedit
The dried roots have a slightly bitter and acrid taste. P. reptans has been traditionally used as an herbal medicine for febrile and inflammatory diseases, to ease coughs, colds and bronchial complaints, and to encourage perspiration.[6] It is furthermore said to bring relief in cases of inflammations and infections.[7] The root is rarely used in modern herbalism. It is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use.
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polemonium reptans.
^ abHilty, John (2016). "Jacob's Ladder". Illinois Wildflowers.
^ abcHeather Holm (2014). Pollinators on Native Plants. Minnetonka, MN: Pollinator Press. pp. 160–161.
^ abCarman, Jack B. (2001). Wildflowers of Tennessee. Highland Rim Press. p. 206.
^ abcHorn, Dennis; Tavia Cathcart (2005). Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians. Edmonton: Lone Pine Publishing. p. 243. ISBN1-55105-428-0.
^Wren, R.C. (1923). Potter's Cylopedia of Botanicak Drugs and Preparations. London: Potter & Clarl. p. 1.
^Duke, James A. (2002). Handbook of medicinal herbs. Duke, James A., 1929- (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. ISBN0849312841. OCLC 48876592.
April 11, 2024
polemonium, reptans, perennial, herbaceous, plant, native, eastern, north, america, common, names, include, spreading, jacob, ladder, creeping, jacob, ladder, false, jacob, ladder, abscess, root, american, greek, valerian, blue, bells, stairway, heaven, sweatr. Polemonium reptans is a perennial herbaceous plant native to eastern North America Common names include spreading Jacob s ladder creeping Jacob s ladder false Jacob s ladder abscess root American Greek valerian blue bells stairway to heaven and sweatroot Polemonium reptansPolemonium reptans flowersConservation statusSecure NatureServe Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade AsteridsOrder EricalesFamily PolemoniaceaeGenus PolemoniumSpecies P reptansBinomial namePolemonium reptansL Contents 1 Description 2 Ecology 3 Range and habitat 4 Cultivation 5 Uses 6 ReferencesDescription editJacob s ladder grows 50 centimetres 20 in tall with pinnate leaves up to 20 centimetres 8 in long with 5 13 leaflets The leaves and flower stems grow from a vertical crown with abundant fibrous roots 1 The flowers are produced in panicles on weak stems from mid to late spring They are 1 3 cm 1 2 in long and have five light blue violet petals that are fused at the base enclosed by a tubular calyx with five pointed lobes 1 The pollen is white The stigma extends beyond the anthers making self pollination difficult so insects must cross pollinate for the plants to produce seed 2 Pollinated flowers develop into an oval pod with three chambers 6 mm 1 2 in long which is enclosed by the green calyx The plant spreads by reseeding itself The Latin specific epithet reptans means creeping 3 nbsp Leaves nbsp Oval seed pods enclosed in green calycesEcology edit nbsp Flowers being visited by a waspThe flowers produce both pollen and nectar Long and short tongued bees visit the plants for both nectar and pollen syrphid flies and fire beetles Pedilus lugubris feed on pollen and butterflies and moths drink nectar Out of these insects large bees are the most effective at cross pollination since they most often touch the pollen covered anthers 2 Range and habitat editPolemonium reptans is typically found in rich moist woods often along streambanks 4 5 Its range extends from Minnesota to New Hampshire in the north and from Georgia to Mississippi in the south 5 It is most abundant west of the Appalachian Mountains 4 5 Cultivation edit nbsp The variegated cultivar Stairway to Heaven The plant prefers partial shade and mesic soil It tolerates full sun but requires constantly moist soil 2 Uses editThe dried roots have a slightly bitter and acrid taste P reptans has been traditionally used as an herbal medicine for febrile and inflammatory diseases to ease coughs colds and bronchial complaints and to encourage perspiration 6 It is furthermore said to bring relief in cases of inflammations and infections 7 The root is rarely used in modern herbalism It is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polemonium reptans a b Hilty John 2016 Jacob s Ladder Illinois Wildflowers a b c Heather Holm 2014 Pollinators on Native Plants Minnetonka MN Pollinator Press pp 160 161 Polemonium reptans Plant Finder www missouribotanicalgarden org Retrieved 2022 01 01 a b Carman Jack B 2001 Wildflowers of Tennessee Highland Rim Press p 206 a b c Horn Dennis Tavia Cathcart 2005 Wildflowers of Tennessee the Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians Edmonton Lone Pine Publishing p 243 ISBN 1 55105 428 0 Wren R C 1923 Potter s Cylopedia of Botanicak Drugs and Preparations London Potter amp Clarl p 1 Duke James A 2002 Handbook of medicinal herbs Duke James A 1929 2nd ed Boca Raton Florida CRC Press ISBN 0849312841 OCLC 48876592 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Polemonium reptans amp oldid 1192660645, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
