Calandrinia remota

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Calandrinia remota
Light:Full Sun
Moisture:Xeric Mesic
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Height:0.3'
Native to:
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Calandrinia remota

Propagation: Seed - best sown in situ in spring since it strongly resents root disturbance. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 weeks at 20°c[1].

Cultivation: Prefers a hot sunny situation on a poor dry sandy soil[2].

This species is not very hardy in Britain, but it should be possible to grow it as a tender annual in this country.

Plants are intolerant of root disturbance, they are best treated as half-hardy annuals and sown in situ in late spring[3]. In frosty climates this species can become a self-sowing annual, the seed germinating in spring[4].

Range: Australia.

Habitat: Arid areas, often around salt lakes.

Edibility: Leaves - raw. The leaves contain oxalic acid and so some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Seed - raw or ground into a meal[5]. The seed is very small and fiddly to harvest, especially since it ripens intermittently over a period of several weeks[K].

Root - raw or cooked[5].

Soil: Can grow in light soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Known Hazards: The plant contains oxalic acid, so it should only be used in moderation[5]. Oxalic acid can lock up certain of the nutrients in food and, if eaten in excess, can lead to nutritional deficiencies. It is, however, perfectly safe in small amounts and its a

Links

References

  1. Bird, R. Growing from Seed Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan, 1989.
  2. Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  3. Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  4. Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Cribb, Alan and Joan Cribb. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana, 1976.