Hydrophyllaceae

Waterleaf Family

Waterleafs

FAMILY: Waterleaf family (Hydrophyllaceae) – Hydrophyllum genus. This genus is sometimes placed in the borage family (Boraginaceae).

SPECIES: #1 ballhead waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum Douglas ex Benth.). #2 Fendler’s or Rocky Mountain waterleaf (Hydrophyllum fendleri (A. Gray) A. Heller). #3 western waterleaf or skunk lettuce (Hydrophyllum occidentale (S. Watson) A. Gray).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: Warning! Regular consumption of waterleafs is not recommended due to their close relationship with the borage family (see the borage family overview). It’s possible they could be totally harmless, but since safety data is scarce, further research is advised. Based on the cited literature, roots of all species listed above are edible. In addition, the shoots, leaves, and flowers of ballhead waterleaf (H. capitatum) and western waterleaf (H. occidentale) are edible.

Roots of western waterleaf (H. occidentale) are white with reddish-brown skins and somewhat translucent. Root systems are fibrous, but the individual strands are fleshy. Numerous strands are clustered together just below ground level, which eases the gathering process. At first, fresh roots taste sharp and bitter, but soon a sweet aftertaste reminiscent of licorice prevails. The flavor is strong, yet not overpowering. The texture is moist, chewy and fibrous, along with plenty of fleshy material. Western waterleaf roots are perfect for soups or stews. Gathering a supply is easy. This plant grows in colonies and produces substantial root systems. Digging up the roots is well worth the effort, and they tend to remain moist and fleshy throughout most of the growing season, even after the above-ground parts have withered.

Leaves of western waterleaf (H. occidentale) are covered with soft hairs, much like the fuzz on peaches. These hairs are harmless, but the fuzzy, cloth-like texture may seem a little strange in salads. Fresh leaves are otherwise pleasant. They have a mild flavor that lacks any acrid, bitter, soapy, or harsh overtones. Simmering promptly transfers the complex sweetness into a delicious green broth with a pleasant aroma. Leaves of the other species mentioned above are essentially the same in flavor, texture, and aroma. Western waterleaf, as well as the other species, is leafy and tends to grow in colonies, so gathering a supply shouldn’t take very long. Leaves are best gathered in spring or summer. The ideal gathering time is very generous, but the leaves eventually dry out sometime in autumn.

NOTES: Waterleafs are seldom mentioned in ethnobotanical literature covering the American Southwest, primarily because they prefer more northern regions. They also prefer moister habitats than what the Southwest typically offers. In the Northwest, waterleafs were gathered by various groups of Native Americans, sometimes as a principal food source, but references to their usage are infrequent. Waterleafs are common in Utah, where I eventually found all 3 species mentioned above. Based on flavor, they are good plants, but due to their close relationship with the borage family (Boraginaceae), they may not be safe. Members of the borage family have dangerous compounds called pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Whether or not waterleafs contain these compounds is uncertain, so this cautionary note may be unnecessary. Waterleafs appear to be safe, but further study into their safety is advised, especially if large quantities are to be consumed.

IDENTIFICATION: The Hydrophyllum genus is currently represented by 9 species in the United States. Only 3 species occur in the Southwest, Great Basin, and southern Rocky Mountains. These species are differentiated mainly by leaf shape.

Description of ballhead waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum): FORM short, perennial plant from fleshy roots and rhizomes; LEAVES simple or pinnate; primarily basal; blades pinnately divided with rounded lobes; leaflets distinct only near the bases; margins blunt-toothed; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in head-like clusters on short peduncles positioned below the surrounding leaves; calyces with 5 equal lobes and hairy margins; corollas light to deep purple, bell-shaped, and 5-lobed; styles 2-cleft; stamens 5, equal in length, and well exserted; filaments hairy; FRUITS capsules spherical, 3-5 mm in diameter, often bristly; HABITAT moist areas, canyon bottoms, meadows and open slopes; throughout most of the Great Basin at mid to upper elevation; blooming April to July.

Description of Rocky Mountain waterleaf (Hydrophyllum fendleri): FORM upright, perennial plant about 20-60 cm tall from fleshy roots and rhizomes; LEAVES simple or pinnate; alternate; long-stalked; blades pinnately divided with tapering lobes; leaflets distinct only near the bases; margins with several sharp teeth; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in head-like clusters on long peduncles positioned above the surrounding leaves; calyces with 5 equal lobes and hairy margins; corollas white to light purple, bell-shaped, and 5-lobed; styles 2-cleft; stamens 5, equal in length, and well exserted; filaments hairy; FRUITS capsules spherical, 3-5 mm in diameter, often bristly; HABITAT moist areas, canyons, and open slopes; primarily in the Rocky Mountains; blooming May to July.

Description of western waterleaf (Hydrophyllum occidentale): FORM upright, perennial plant about 15-50 cm tall from fleshy roots and rhizomes; LEAVES simple or pinnate; alternate; blades pinnately divided; leaflets oval in outline and distinct only near the bases; margins with a few coarse teeth; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in head-like clusters on long peduncles positioned above the surrounding leaves; calyces with 5 equal lobes and hairy margins; corollas light to deep purple, bell-shaped, and 5-lobed; styles 2-cleft; stamens 5, equal in length, and well exserted; filaments hairy; FRUITS capsules rounded, 3-5 mm in diameter, often bristly; HABITAT moist areas, canyons, and open slopes; northern Arizona to Idaho and westward; blooming April to July.

REFERENCES: #1 little waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum): roots, shoots, leaves, and flowers Olsen (p. 107) and Vizgirdas (p. 214); leaves and flowers Tilford (p. 154). #2 Rocky Mountain waterleaf (Hydrophyllum fendleri): roots Kuhnlein (p. 295). #3 western waterleaf (Hydrophyllum occidentale): roots, shoots, leaves, and flowers Vizgirdas (p. 214); roots Couplan (p. 359), Kirk (p. 72), and Moerman (p. 129).

Scorpionweeds

FAMILY: Waterleaf family (Hydrophyllaceae) – Phacelia genus. The Phacelia genus is sometimes placed in the borage family (Boraginaceae).

SPECIES: #1 Mojave scorpionweed (Phacelia distans Benth.). #2 white scorpionweed or varileaf phacelia (Phacelia heterophylla Pursh). #3 branched scorpionweed (Phacelia ramosissima Douglas ex Lehm.).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: Leaves of the species listed above can be utilized as food, but most species of the Phacelia genus are not reported to be edible. Consumption of any species, even the ones listed above, is not advised due to their close relationship with the borage family (Boraginaceae) and to the extraordinary difficulties involved with identification.

Mojave scorpionweed (P. distans) is not significantly different than branched scorpionweed described below in terms of taste, texture, and aroma. However, the flavor does seem a little harsher, and the texture a little firmer. Mojave scorpionweed is an abundant desert species blooming in late winter or early spring throughout southern Arizona and California. The Kawaiisu Indians (Nuwa) of southern California called the plant “yuh’citibi” and prepared it like other leafy vegetables.

White scorpionweed (P. heterophylla) grows throughout most of the western United States in sagebrush, oak, juniper, and pine communities. White refers to the flowers that bloom from May to August. References to the use of white scorpionweed leaves as food are scarce. Apparently, the Navajo Indians (Diné) of northeastern Arizona ate the leaves. No other usage reports were found.

Branched scorpionweed (P. ramosissima) leaves taste mild. The flavor suggests dark green leafy vegetables marked with some unusual perfume-like accents. The texture is easily chewable whether the leaves are eaten fresh or cooked, but cooking is advised due to the hairs. Scorpionweeds are known for having a wide variety of hair types, some of which can be very irritating. They’re also known for having a wide variety of aromas. Cooking effectively renders the hairs harmless and draws out any unusual accents. Branched scorpionweed isn’t the most appealing wild food in the Southwest, but it’s fairly common in the foothills and mountains of Arizona and California in spring. Numerous references indicate that this species is edible, and many of those references ultimately trace back to Philip Sparkman’s 1908 ethnobotany of the Luiseño Indians (Payómkawichum) of southern California which simply states, “Used as greens.” Not much context there. Sparkman also states that “sikimona” is the Luiseño name for this plant. The branched scorpionweed field assessments for this book were based on colonies growing in shaded canyons of central Arizona.

IDENTIFICATION: About 150 species of the Phacelia genus are found in the United States, many of which are common. Identifying the species is difficult, even for professional botanists. All parts are required for identification, especially the seeds. The following species are verifiable by observing their leaves, flowers, exserted stamens, and 1-4 non-excavated seeds per fruit. The multitudes of other species have excavated boat-like seeds, or more than 4 seeds per fruit, or inserted stamens.

Description of Mojave scorpionweed (Phacelia distans): FORM hairy, annual plant about 15-80 cm tall; LEAVES alternate; compound; pinnate; blades 2-13 cm long; leaflets or segments toothed; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in coiled one-sided cymes; calyces with 5 slightly unequal lobes, free to the bases; corollas white to blue, bell-shaped, and 5-lobed; styles 2-cleft; stamens 5, shortly exserted, and attached to the corollas at the same level; filaments hairless; FRUITS capsules spherical; seeds 1-4, pitted, and not excavated; HABITAT deserts; California and Arizona; blooming March to May.

Description of white scorpionweed (Phacelia heterophylla): FORM hairy, biennial plant about 30-120 cm tall; LEAVES alternate; simple or compound; blades lanceolate with 1-2 pairs of smaller basal lobes or leaflets; margins entire; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in coiled one-sided cymes; calyces 5-lobed; corollas white, bell-shaped, and 5-lobed; styles cleft; stamens 5, well exserted, and attached to the corollas at the same level; filaments hairy; FRUITS capsules spherical; seeds 1-4, pitted, and not excavated; HABITAT sagebrush, oak, juniper, and pine communities; nearly throughout the West; blooming May to August.

Description of branched scorpionweed (Phacelia ramosissima): FORM hairy, perennial plant about 30-120 cm tall emerging from branching woody roots; LEAVES alternate; compound; pinnate; blades 3-20 cm long; leaflets or segments toothed; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in coiled one-sided cymes; calyces 5-lobed; corollas light blue, bell-shaped, and 5-lobed; styles cleft; stamens 5, well exserted, and attached to the corollas at the same level; filaments hairless; FRUITS capsules spherical; seeds 1-4, pitted, and not excavated; HABITAT diverse; often in canyons at low to mid elevations; southern California and central Arizona; blooming March to August.

REFERENCES: #1 Mojave scorpionweed (Phacelia distans): leaves Moerman (p. 177) and Zigmond (p. 48). #2 white scorpionweed (Phacelia heterophylla): leaves Moerman (p. 177). #3 branched scorpionweed (Phacelia ramosissima): leaves Kirk (p. 74), Moerman (pp. 177-178), Sparkman (p. 230), Yanovski (p. 53), and Zigmond (p. 48).