osha

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bear Root
• Colorado Cough Root
• Mountain Lovage
• Oshá
• Porter's Licorice Root
• Porter's Lovage
• Southern Ligusticum
• osha
• Mukwa jiibik

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ligusticum porteri var. brevilobum
• Ligusticum brevilobum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further categorized into the order Apiales and the family Apiaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Ligusticum, specifically as the species Ligusticum porteri.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Ligusticum porteri, exhibits a specific range across the Western United States. In the Northwestern region, it can be found growing within the states of Colorado and Wyoming. Moving toward the Southwest, its distribution extends into the rugged landscapes of Arizona. It is also commonly documented throughout the state of Nevada. Finally, the plant completes its documented geographical reach in Utah.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ligusticum porteri is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its habitat through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial species, it does not complete its life cycle in a single year but instead develops robust structures that enable it to survive unfavorable conditions and re-emerge annually. This long-term survival strategy supports a continuous presence within its ecological niche, where it undergoes seasonal cycles of vegetative growth, flowering, and seed production over several years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ligusticum porteri is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. It exhibits a non-woody structure throughout its vegetative parts and does not possess climbing habits, functioning instead as a self-supporting plant that maintains its posture without the need for external structures.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ligusticum porteri is characterized by the production of small seeds that exhibit specific weight variations within the population. The seed mass follows a narrow distribution, with a recorded mean value of 0.004596667 g. Individual seed measurements fluctuate slightly, reaching a maximum mass of 0.0055 g and a minimum mass of 0.00409 g. These quantitative traits provide insight into the energetic investment during the seed development stage of the plant's life cycle.

Seed mass max:

0.0055 g

Seed mass mean:

0.004596667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00409 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ligusticum porteri has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of AOAC International

Chemicals

Ligusticum porteri has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Diligustilide, Flavonoids, Melatonin, Z-ligustilide, serotonin.

Diligustilide

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of medicinal food

Melatonin

1. Planta medica

Z-ligustilide

1. Journal of AOAC International

serotonin

1. Planta medica

Activities

Ligusticum porteri has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiulcer.

Antiulcer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Ligusticum porteri has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diarrhea, Gastric ulcers, dysentery, tuberculosis.

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of medicinal food

Gastric ulcers

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dysentery

1. Journal of medicinal food

Tuberculosis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Ligusticum porteri has 5 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Methanol-chloroform extract, Solvent extraction, dichloromethane extracts, hexane extract, organic extracts.

Methanol-chloroform extract

1. Proceedings of the Western Pharmacology Society

Solvent extraction

1. Journal of medicinal food

Dichloromethane extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hexane extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Organic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology