Enchylaena tomentosa
| Enchylaena tomentosa | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 3' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Enchylaena tomentosa (common name: ruby saltbush)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse, planting out after the last expected frosts. Give some protection for at least their first winter outdoors.
It might also be possible to grow the plant as a summer annual, sowing in the spring and planting out the young plants after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings.
Cultivation: We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. It tolerates temperatures down to at least -7c in Australian gardens where it also resists salt spray[1]. However, this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters. It might be worthwhile trying it as a summer annual and seeing if it can overwinter. It probably requires a very well-drained soil and a sunny position[K]. We have overwintered the plant in a cold greenhouse, though it suffered lots of die-back, so it will obviously have problems outdoors[K].
Range: Australia.
Habitat: Loamy and slightly saline soils by the coast in semi-arid areas[2][1]. Found in salt marshes and rocky headlands as well as in arid zones inland[3].
Edibility: Fruit - crisp, sweet and succulent[4][5]. A salty-sweet flavour[3]. Very small, it is about 5mm in diameter[3]. The fruits can be soaked in water and the liquid drunk like sweetened tea[3].
Leaves - cooked like spinach[5][3]. The leaves are rich in oxalates so they should not be eaten in quantity[4].
Medicinal: The plant is antiscorbutic[4].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The leaves are rich in oxalic acid. Perfectly alright in small quantities, the leaves should not be eaten in large amounts since oxalic acid can bind up the body's supply of calcium leading to nutritional deficiency. It is oxalic acid that gives foods suc
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
- ↑ Ewart, Alfred. Recording Census of the Victorian Flora. 1923.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Low, Tim. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson, 1989.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Cribb, Alan and Joan Cribb. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana, 1976.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.