Scorzonera mongolica

Maxim.

Mongolian viper's grass

AsteraceaeLeavesRootsFlowers

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Moscow State University (copyright is managed by Dr. Alexey P. Seregin)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Flowers, Leaves, Root

The root is edible cooked. Young leaves can be cooked and eaten, and the flowers are eaten raw.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. In north China it grows in salty meadows and sands as well as alkaline soils and beach sands from sea level to 3,200 m above sea level.

Asia, Central Asia, China, Kazakhstan, Manchuria, Mongolia,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A herb. It grows 5-35 cm tall. It keeps growing from year to year. It has leaves at the base in a ring. The rootstock is cylinder shape. There can be a few stems. The leaves at the base are narrow and 2-13 cm long by 1 cm wide. The leaves on the stem are shorter. The flower heads are only few and in a sparse flat topped arrangement. They are yellow or white.

How to Grow

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in any soil in sun or light shade.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring in a greenhouse, pricking out seedlings into relatively deep pots as soon as they are large enough to handle, to accommodate the taproot. If growth is strong, plant out in early summer; otherwise overwinter in the greenhouse and plant out in late spring the following year. Divide in autumn or as growth begins in spring. Larger divisions can go straight into permanent positions. Smaller divisions are best potted up and grown on in a lightly shaded cold frame, then planted out once well established in summer.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Other Uses

None known.

Wikipedia

A perennial hermaphrodite pollinated by insects. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils with good drainage. Tolerates mildly acidic, neutral, mildly alkaline, and saline soils. Requires full sun and adapts to both dry and moist conditions.

Names & Synonyms

Meng gu ya cong

References (3)

Lim, T. K., Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants Volume 7 Flowers
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Urgamal, M., Oyuntsetseg, B., Nyambayar, D. & Dulamsuren, Ch. 2014. Conspectus of the vascular plants of Mongolia. (Editors: Sanchir, Ch. & Jamsran, Ts.). Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. “Admon“ Press. 334pp. (p. 199-230).