Bongardia chrysogonum
| Bongardia chrysogonum | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 0.5' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Late Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Bongardia chrysogonum
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the greenhouse[1], putting about 3 -4 seeds in each pot. Use deep pots since the seedlings produce a contractile root that can pull themselves down to a depth of 15 - 30cm before sending up their first leaf[2]. The seed germinates in autumn and the first leaf appears in the spring[2]. Grow the plants on in the greenhouse for at least 3 years before planting them out.
Division is sometimes suggested as a means of increase, but is not possible for this species[2].
Cultivation: Requires a well-drained sandy soil[3][1]. Strongly dislikes wet conditions[3]. Plants must have hot, dry conditions during their summer dormancy and must not be allowed to become too wet in winter, therefore they are best grown in a bulb frame[4][2][1].
Plants can be very long lived[1].
Range: N. Africa to W. Asia - Syria to Iran.
Habitat: Steppes, amongst field crops on clayey and solonetzic slopes[5].
Edibility: Tuber - baked or boiled[6][5][7][8].
The leaves are eaten raw or cooked in the same manner as sorrel[6][8].
Medicinal: A treatment for epilepsy[9].
Soil: Can grow in light soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: B. rauwolfia. Leontice chrysogonum.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Royal Horticultural Society. The Plantsman Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society, 1982.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Bulbs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.