Wisteria frutescens

(L.) Poir.

American wisteria

FabaceaeFlowersPotential hazards — see below

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iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) joelmc, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Flowers

The fresh flowers are eaten in tossed green salads. They are also said to be excellent when dipped in batter and fried in oil as fritters.

Known Hazards

All species of Wisteria contain a saponin known as Wisterin in the bark, branches, pods, roots, and seeds. There is debate over whether the flowers are toxic. An unknown and toxic resin is present as well. Poisoning from the plant can occur from ingestion of 1 to 2 seed pods and results in mild to severe gastroenteritis, nausea, frequent vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. This can result in dehydration and collapse in serious cases; recovery generally occurs within 24 hours. The concentration of toxins varies in all segments of the plant and varies during different seasons. Wisterin's structure has been shown to be similar in structure and in effects to the alkaloid cytisine, but less potent. It has a bittersweet taste. As with the cytisine-containing Laburnum, its leaves are sometimes taken as a tobacco substitute. Canavanine is a common α-amino-acid constituent found in the seeds of all species of Wisteria. It serves as a defense compound against herbivores and provides a vital source of nitrogen for the growing plant embryo. The toxicity of canavanine is due to its extreme structural similarity to L-arginine, which may result in an organism's incorporation of it into proteins in place of L-arginine. This results in the production of aberrant proteins that may not function properly in the body.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zone 5. Arboretum Tasmania.

Australia, Central Asia, North America*, Tajikistan, Tasmania, USA,

Countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, St Kitts & Nevis, Kazakhstan, St Lucia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Uzbekistan, St Vincent

How to Identify

Flowers are formed on the current season's wood. The flowers are in drooping spikes. They are rich lilac colour.

How to Grow

Propagation: Seed has no dormancy requirements and can be sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, germinating in spring. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water before sowing in a greenhouse in early spring. Seed can also be sown in an outdoor seedbed in late spring; germination usually occurs in the first spring but may be delayed a further 12 months. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame for the first winter, then plant out in late spring or early summer. Plants grown from seed are very slow and can take up to 20 years to flower. Basal cuttings of side-shoots can be taken in early to mid summer once new growth has hardened sufficiently, each with 2–3 leaves. Removing a shallow slice of bark from the bottom 15mm of the cutting exposes extra cambium and encourages better callusing and rooting. In a mist frame with bottom heat of 27–30°C, cuttings will root within 4 weeks and produce well-established plants by autumn. Layering in spring is also effective: lay a long shoot along the ground, cover with a shallow layer of soil, and it will produce roots at intervals along the stem. Once roots are well formed, the shoot can be divided into several plants, potted up, and kept in a lightly shaded greenhouse until established before planting out.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Other Uses

Nitrogen fixer.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Wisteria frutescens (common names American wisteria, swamp wisteria, Mississippi wisteria, and Atlantic wisteria) is a woody, deciduous, perennial climbing vine, one of various wisterias of the family Fabaceae. It is native to the wet forests and stream banks of the southeastern United States, with a range stretching from the states of Virginia to Texas (Northeast Texas Piney Woods) and extending southeast through Florida, also north to Iowa, Michigan, and New York.

References (5)

Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 114
Jackes, D. A., 2007, Edible Forest Gardens
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 925
Ryan, S., 2008, Dicksonia. Rare Plants Manual. Hyland House. p 80
Tabl. encycl. 3:674. 1823