Polygonum weyrichii

From Permawiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Polygonum weyrichii
Light:Full Sun Part Shade
Moisture:Mesic
Hardiness:5
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Height:5'
Blooms:Mid Summer-Early Fall
Native to:
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Polygonum weyrichii

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]. Repays generous treatment[1].

Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[3].

Range: E. Asia - Japan on Sakhalin Island.

Habitat: Alpine slopes and gravelly places near the sea[4].

Edibility: Young shoots - cooked[5][6].

Seed - dried and ground into a powder and used with cereals for making bread, porridge etc[7][8][9][5]. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize.

Pollinators: Insects

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure

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: Aconogonum weyrichii. (F. Schmidt.)Nakai.

Links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  2. Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  3. Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
  4. Ohwi, Jisaburo. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, 1965.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
  6. Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
  7. Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  8. Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
  9. Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.