Western gromwell, Yellow puccoon
Lithospermum ruderale
Family: Boraginaceae
What it is like
A small plant. It grows 20-50 cm high. It has a thick taproot. The leaves are alternate and simple. There are many leaves and they have no leafstalk. The leaves are narrow, stiff and hairy. They are 5-10 cm long. The flowers are yellow. The lower part of the flower is in a long tube. They are 15 mm across and crowded in leafy clusters at the ends of stalks. They have a sweet scent. The fruit are 4 small white hard nutlets.
Where it is found
It grows in prairie grassland.
Countries/locations it is found in
Canada, North America, USA
How it is used for food
The roots are used as food. Caution: Parts of the plant can contain hormones.
Edible parts
Seeds, roots