Suaeda occidentalis
Watson
(c) 1999 California Academy of Sciences, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Seeds
Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and have a salty flavour. The seeds are also edible raw or cooked.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant.
North America, USA,
How to Identify
Annual herb with wind-pollinated self-fertile hermaphrodite flowers blooming July to October and ripening seeds August to October. Grows in light sandy or medium loamy soils in neutral to basic pH, tolerating very alkaline and saline conditions. Needs full sun and moist soil with strong maritime exposure tolerance.
How to Grow
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. This species is easily confused with Suaeda calceoliformis, which occurs throughout its range. There are virtually no differences in floral characters. It dislikes shade, see the plants native range for other ideas on its cultivation needs.
Propagation: Sow seed in spring, direct in situ.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Other Uses
None known
Wikipedia
Annual herb with wind-pollinated self-fertile hermaphrodite flowers blooming July to October and ripening seeds August to October. Grows in light sandy or medium loamy soils in neutral to basic pH, tolerating very alkaline and saline conditions. Needs full sun and moist soil with strong maritime exposure tolerance.
Notes
Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.
References (1)
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
