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Erigenia bulbosa
Erigenia bulbosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Apiales Family: Apiaceae Genus: Erigenia Species: E. bulbosa
Binomial name
Erigenia bulbosa Nutt.

Erigenia bulbosa, also known as Harbinger of spring or Pepper and salt, is a perennial plant in the family carrot family (Apiaceae). E. bulbosa is the only plants in the genus Erigenia Nutt.. This plant is known as the harbinger of spring because it is one of the earliest blooming native wildflowers of rich, eastern North American forests of the mid-latitude United States.^[1] It blooms from late February through April. It is a small spring ephemeral reaching only 5-15 cm tall when in flower, and slightly larger afterwards. Each spherical bulb gives rise to a single stem, which terminates in an umbel of flowers with white petals and large dark-reddish anthers. The white teardrop shaped petals are widely spaced and 3-4 millimeters long. As is characteristic of the carrot family The leaves of this plant are pinnately divided into many small sections.

The bulb is edible both cooked and raw.^[2] The Cherokee were known to chew this plant as medicine for toothaches, it is unknown what parts of plant they chewed.^[3]

[edit] References

1. ^ USDA PLANTS Database: Erigenia bulbosa
2. ^ Plants for a Future Database: E. bulbosa.
3. ^ Dr. Moermann's Ethnobotanical database: E. bulbosa

Whole plant of E. bulbosa

E. bulbosa from Britton & Brown 1913