Calandrinia polyandra
(Hook.) Benth.
Parakeelya, Munyeroo
(c) Paul Tavares, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Paul Tavares
(c) Paul Tavares, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Seeds, Leaves
Edible Parts: Leaves Root Seed Edible Uses: Leaves - raw. The leaves contain oxalic acid and so some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - raw or ground into a meal. The seed is very small and fiddly to harvest, especially since it ripens intermittently over a period of several weeks. Root - raw or cooked.
How to Identify
A small herb. It can re-grow from seed each year or keep growing. It is 10-30 cm high and 50-100 cm wide. The leaves are 2.5 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. They are oblong and can be like a cylinder. They are fleshy. The flowers are open petalled and 2 cm across. The petals are mauve or pink or white. The fruit is a 3-valved capsule. It is on a stalk 2-3 cm long.
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.
Propagation: Seed - best sown in situ in spring since it strongly resents root disturbance. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 weeks at 20°c.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Other Uses
None known Special Uses
Wikipedia
Source ↗Calandrinia polyandra is a dwarf annual or perennial reaching 10 cm with frost-tender characteristics. Flowers bloom July to August. The plant has hermaphroditic flowers and prefers light sandy to medium loamy soils with good drainage, tolerating poor soil. It requires full sun and grows in mildly acid to basic and saline soils. It adapts to dry or moist conditions and tolerates drought.
Notes
There are between 50-100 Calandrinia species. It has also been put in the family Portulacaceae.
Names & Synonyms
References (7)
- Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 73
- Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 117
- Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 406
- Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 157
- Paczkowska, G . & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 462
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
