Salsola soda
| Salsola soda | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Salsola soda (common name: barilla plant)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in situ. The seed has a short viability and should be stored cool over the winter[1].
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. Plants are sometimes cultivated for the potash obtained from their stems[2][3]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Requires a very sunny position in a light or medium well-drained soil, it tolerates salty soils, occasional inundation by salt water and maritime exposure. Succeeds in poor soils and grows more vigorously on alkaline soils[1].
Range: Europe - Mediterranean to W. Asia.
Habitat: Maritime sands and salty soils near sea level in the Mediterranean and in Turkey[4][5].
Edibility: Young leaves and stems - cooked and used as a vegetable[2][3][6]. A crunchy tender texture[1].
Usage: The ashes of the burnt plant are used for making glass and soap[2][3]. At one time large quantities of the ashes were imported into Britain for this purpose, but nowadays a chemical process using salt is employed[7].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Larkcom, Joy. Oriental Vegetables. John Murray, 1991.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Davis, Peter. Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press, 1965.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.