Habitat
Type: waste places
Distribution: throughout northern hemisphere
Other: patch forming; see Note [1] below

General
Growth type: herb
Cycle: perennial
Height: up to 2 meters

Leaf
Shape: lanceolate
Arrangement: alternate
Edge: smooth

Root
Type: rhizome

Flower
Diameter: 20-30mm
Petals/sepals: 4, uneven
Arrangement: progressive on spike
Colour:

Seed
Shape: with down
Size: tiny
Casing: long, pod-like tubes

March to July
March to June
all year - best March to May
June to September
July to October

Parts with black and white icons are for non-culinary use

Flavour
Rating and Description:
bland

How to Consume
(young shoots) : raw
raw, flour

Special preparation
peel

Nutrition
Vitamin A and C

Used as ...
food, beverage, see Note [2] below
shoots: food; pith: thickener
food

Action:
Plant: anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, astringent, demulcent, emollient, laxative, tonic
(peeled): may be antimalerial

May treat:
Plant: candida, diarrhoea, mucous colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal cramps, skin/mouth ulcers, prostate (especially cancer of the prostate)
poultice: burns, skin sores, swelling, boils

down: tinder, pillow stuffing

Drying
dry about 10 days by hanging (not flowering plants)

Note
[1] Despite the fact that this plant often follows fire, it is not the heat which is required but bare ground, as the seed needs light to germinate. It will colonise any freshly opened ground, and subsequently spread by rhizome.
[2] Not suitable for leaf curd, as the juice has a thick, mucilaginous consistency.
[3] Food for the Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar.

Plant parts:
leaf
stem or trunk
sap
root, bulb, tuber and other below ground parts
flower
fruit
seed

Parts with black and white icons in the availability section are for non-culinary use

Use:
culinary use
medicinal use
household use

Other:
caution

General Glossary

• lanceolate: shaped like a lance head; long, tapering to end

Glossary of Medicinal Terms and Nutritive Substances

• anti-inflammatory: reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc. (see also demulcent, emollient)
• antispasmodic: prevents or eases spasms or cramps
• astringent: causes localised contraction of blood vessels and tissue, reducing the flow of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• demulcent: rich in mucilage, soothes or protects irritated or inflamed tissue (especially mucousa)
• emollient: applied to the skin softens, soothes, protects (externally, as demulcents do internally)
• laxative: evacuates the bowels or softens stools
• tonic: improves general health, bringing steady improvement