Nuttall's povertyweed (Monolepis nuttalliana)

Nuttall's povertyweed (Monolepis nuttalliana)
Wikimedia Commons — Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA — CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)

At a glance

Lifecycle
Annual
Exposure
Full sun

Cultivation

We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though it should be possible to grow it as a half-hardy annual in this country. It is likely to require a well-drained soil in a sunny position.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in late spring in situ.

Edible uses

Leaves - cooked until tender. Root - cooked. Seed. Very small and fiddly, it is used as a piñole.

Medicinal uses

A poultice of moist leaves has been applied to skin abrasions.

Habitat

Waste places, lawn edges, gardens etc in dry, saline and alkaline soils.

Native range

Western N. America - Manitoba to California, Texas and New Mexico.

Scientific synonyms Blitum nuttallianum