Polygonum alpinum
| Polygonum alpinum | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Polygonum alpinum (common name: alpine knotweed)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Germination is usually free and easy. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have reached sufficient size. If not, overwinter them in a cold frame and plant them out the following spring after the last expected frosts.
Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cultivation: Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil[1] but prefers a moisture retentive not too fertile soil in sun or part shade[2]. Grows well near water[1]. Repays generous treatment[1].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[3].
Plants can be invasive but they are easily controlled by spading around the clump[2].
Range: Europe to E. Asia.
Habitat: Damp meadows, wood margins and mixed grass steppes[4]. Open humus-rich slopes, 2200 - 2700 metres in Kashmir[5].
Edibility: Leaves - raw or cooked[6][5]. They have an acid flavour and can be used as a sorrel substitute[4]. The chopped leaves and stems have been added to a thick pudding of flour and sugar then eaten[7].
Leaf stems - raw or cooked. An acid flavour, they can be cut into sections and used like rhubarb (Rheum spp)[7].
The juice from the plant has been sweetened and used as a refreshing drink[7].
Seed - raw or cooked. It is rather small and fiddly to utilize.
Medicinal: The whole plant is astringent[4]. The raw roots and stem bases have been chewed as a treatment for coughs and colds[7].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Although no specific mention has been made for this species, there have been reports that some members of this genus can cause photosensitivity in susceptible people._x005F
Many species also contain oxalic acid (the distinctive lemony flavour of sorrel) - whil
Also Known As: P. undulatum
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Singh, Gurcharan and Premnath Kachroo. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1976.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.