Chenopodium schraderianum

At a glance

Lifecycle: Annual
Exposure: Full sun

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know how well it will grow in Britain, but it should succeed as a spring sown annual. It is closely related to C. botrys. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils but disliking shade.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. Most of the seed usually germinates within a few days of sowing.

Edible uses

Leaves - raw or cooked as a spinach. The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - ground into a powder and used with cereal flours to make bread, cakes etc. Small and fiddly. The seed should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before it is used in order to remove any saponins.

Medicinal uses

Antiasthmatic. Also used in the treatment of migraine and catarrhal conditions.

Material uses

The whole plant repels moths. Gold/green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant.