Vaccaria hispanica
| Vaccaria hispanica | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Vaccaria hispanica (common name: cow cockle)
Propagation: Seed - sow April in situ[1].
Cultivation: Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position[2].
Sometimes cultivated for its seed which is often added to wild bird foods[2]. By this means, the plant is often found as an introduced casual in Britain[2].
Range: C. and S. Europe, north to Belgium. An introduced and not infrequent casual in Britain[3].
Habitat: A weed of cultivated fields[4].
Edibility: Leaves - used as a condiment[5][6][7].
Seed - ground into a meal[6]. Rich in starch[6]. The seed contains 13.8 - 16.1% protein and 1.6 - 3.2% fat[8]. The seed also contains saponins, see notes above on toxicity[8].
Medicinal: The seed is anodyne, discutient, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactogogue, styptic and vulnerary[9][10][11][8]. A decoction is used to treat skin problems, breast tumours, menstrual problems, deficiency of lactation and sluggish labour[8]. The seeds are also taken internally as a galactogogue[8]. The flowers, leaves, roots and shoots also have the same properties[8].
The sap of the plant is said to be febrifuge and tonic[12]. It is used in the treatment of long-continued fevers of a low type[12].
The plant is used externally to cure itch[12].
Pollinators: Lepidoptera, self
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The seeds and other parts of the plant contain saponins[8][12]. Although toxic, these substances are very poorly absorbed by the body and so tend to pass through without causing harm, they are also broken down if thoroughly heated[K]. Saponins are foun
Also Known As: V. pyramidata. V. segetilis. V. vulgaris. Saponaria vaccaria. L.
Links
References
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
- ↑ Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.