Calandrinia polyandra
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
Prefers a hot sunny situation on a poor dry sandy soil. This species is not very hardy in Britain, but it should be possible to grow it as a tender annual in this country. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance, they are best treated as half-hardy annuals and sown in situ in late spring.
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.
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[K]. Root - raw or cooked.
Habitat
Arid areas, often around salt lakes.
Native range
Australia.