Cynanchum sibiricum
| Cynanchum sibiricum | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Cynanchum sibiricum
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in the greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in spring.
Cultivation: We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. It probably does not have any special cultivation requirements and will probably succeed in most soils in a sunny position[K].
There is a lot of confusion over the correct name of this species. According to the Russian flora C. sibiricum. (L.)R.Br. is a synonym of Antitoxicum sibiricum. (L.)Pobed. a perennial that grows to 45cm on sandhills, in pine woods, steppe and rocky slopes from W. Siberia to China. The same flora mentions C. sibiricum. Willd, a perennial that is very closely related to C. acutum (q.v.) and grows on tugail soils by rivers and brooks, irrigation canals, alluvial and sand dunes[1]. We cannot be sure which of these species is meant in the reports of edibility.
Range: E. Asia - Manchuria.
Habitat: See below.
Edibility: Leaves - cooked[2][3]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
Seedpods[2][3]. No further details but we assume that they need to be cooked. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
Seed[4]. No further details are given, this could refer to the seedpod instead of the seed.
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: There are some reports of toxins in this genus[4].
Links
References
- ↑ Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.