BOARD OF WATER rn, AND SOIL RESOURCES 2018 December of the Month BWSR Featured Plant Name: Purple-stemmed () Plant : Carrot () Purple-stemmed A striking 6 to 9 feet tall, purple- Angelica grows in stemmed Angelica is one of moist conditions in full sun to part Minnesota’s tallest wildflowers. This shade, reaching as robust herbaceous perennial grows tall as 9 feet. along streambanks, shores, marshes, Photo Credit: calcareous fens, springs and sedge Karin Jokela, Xerces Society meadows — often in calcium-rich alkaline soils. The epithet “atropurpurea” comes from the Latin words āter (“dark”) Plant Stats and purpūreus (“purple”), in reference to the deep purple color of the stem. WETLANDSTATEWIDE bloom from May to July. Like INDICATOR other in the carrot family, the STATUS: OBL flowers provide easy-to-access floral PLANTING resources for a wide diversity of flies, METHODS: bees and other pollinators. Although Bare-, not confirmed for this species, the containers, nectar of other members of the Angelica seed can have an intoxicating effect on . Both butterflies and bumble bees are reported to lose flight ability, or fly clumsily, for a short period after consuming the nectar. Purple-stemmed Angelica is a host plant for the Eastern black swallowtail butterflyPapilio ( polyxenes asterius) and the umbellifera borer ( birdi).

Uses Native American cultures. The consumption must be done projects. Restorationists plant also has many culinary with EXTREME CAUTION. appreciate its ability to Purple-stemmed Angelica uses: the flavorful stems are The similar water hemlock tolerate wet soils, part shade has a long history of human similar in texture to and hemlock are both and high weed pressure use. All parts of the plant and can be used, along with DEADLY POISONOUS and (especially when starting — especially the root — are the , in salad, stir-fry, have caused the death of from plants or ). The used medicinally, particularly or soups. The stems are also foragers. Several plants in this nectar it produces attracts to settle the stomach and candied and used by pastry family also cause severe skin many pollinators. The treat stomach disorders. chefs to decorate cakes and irritations if handled. Angelica tissue feeds the Eastern black The aromatic root can be desserts. Seeds are used as a is also valued for its attractive swallowtail butterfly (Papilio burned in a smudge, and seasoning, or in liquors and flowers and striking growth polyxenes asterius) and the has widespread use as a confectionary.WARNING: form, both in its natural umbellifera borer moth purification herb among Any harvest of this plant for habitat and in restoration ().

www.bwsr.state.mn.us 1 Planting Recommendations Angelica should be seeding, although planted in wet to the seed requires a medium-wet soils in complicated stratification full sun to part shade. process (cold moist It is a good choice for followed by warm moist low-maintenance rain followed by cold moist). gardens, streambanks If planted outdoors and lakeshore plantings, without stratification, the as it will persist and seed will take two years compete well with other or longer to germinate. plants. This species is Propagation can be easiest to establish from accomplished via division bare root or container or seed. Division can be plants. Bare roots should done on 2- to 3-year-old be planted in fall or plants in early spring as spring. Container plants new growth emerges. provide more flexibility This plant readily in timing the installation self-seeds; successful — as long as plants have self-seeding can be sufficient shade and can encouraged by ensuring be watered as needed. that there is bare ground Planting also can be around the plant for ripe accomplished by direct seed to fall onto.

..,,.

The green flowers form a large rounded composed of smaller rounded umbellets. Photo Credit: Karin Jokela, Xerces Society Identification Mi IH°I l'::!S O ;"t The greenish flowers occur in ,~ rounded clusters (umbellets) that are grouped into rounded 4 to 8 inches wide. ~ The 6- to 9-foot-tall stems are r' J hollow, smooth and purple or streaked with purple. Leaves are alternate and compound. The elongated leaf stalks have Lower leaves are up to 2 feet long with a large green-to-purple sheath three to five leaflets.Photo Credit: Range map source: The range is based on University of at the base. Lower leaves, with Sarah Foltz Jordan, Xerces Society Minnesota Herbarium data. three to five leaflets, measure up to 2 feet long including the Range one or two deep lobes. Leaflets long petioles. Upper leaves are The species is found Wisconsin, and also have sharp-toothed margins smaller, less compound and on in a variety of moist occurs across much and smooth surfaces. Fruits are shorter petioles. Leaflets are up sites, primarily in of the Northeast to 4 inches long and ovate to up to a quarter-inch long, and the southeastern plus eastern . lance-shaped, sometimes with flat with thin, winged edges. part of the state. It Minnesota is on the is more widespread western edge of the in neighboring species’ range. Left: Cow ( maximum) has palmately compound leaves and flowers with notched petals.Photo Credit: Dave Hanson Center: Poison hemlock ( maculatum) (deadly) has finely divided, fern-like leaves.Photo Credit: Katy Chayka, Minnesota Wildflowers Right: Common water-hemlock, ( maculata) (deadly) has narrower leaves, smaller and more slender stature, and a flat (rather than spherical cluster.Photo Credit: Katy Chayka, Minnesota Wildflowers Similar Species Purple-stemmed Angelica and poison hemlock (Conium flowers with distinctive white water hemlock is native is the only member of the maculatum). Since the latter petals that are notched at the and very widespread across Angelica genus native to two are deadly poisonous, tip — especially prominent on Minnesota, but has narrower Minnesota. However, this knowing how to distinguish the outer edge of the umbel. leaflets than Angelica (1¼ inch species is often confused with purple-stemmed Angelica’s Poison hemlock has leaves rather than 2 inches across) other large-statured members look-alikes is essential. Cow that are much more finely and the umbel is fairly flat in of the carrot family, including parsnip can be distinguished divided (fern-like), and occurs shape (rather than spherical). cow parsnip (Heracleum by the palmately compound in just a few disjunct counties It is also more slender and maximum), common water softly hairy leaves, hairy stem, in Minnesota where it has smaller in stature — 3 to 6 hemlock () flat umbel, and individual been introduced. Common feet tall.

References Minnesota Wildflowers: https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/angelica Illinois Wildflowers: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/grt_angelica.html USDA PLANTS Database: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ANAT

Developed by Sarah Foltz Jordan

www.bwsr.state.mn.us 3