Habitat
Type: bare or cultivated ground
Distribution: throughout northern hemisphere

General
Growth type: herb
Cycle: deciduous
Height: up to 50cm
Other: fragile, variable, bright green

Leaf
Shape: pointed oval
Texture: slightly fleshy

Stem
Texture: lines of fine hairs
Other: creeping

Flower
Shape: stellar
Diameter: 8-10mm
Petals/sepals: deep cleft
Arrangement: long stalks
When: all year
Colour:

Seed
Casing: capsule

Take extra care with identification, can be mistaken for very poisonous plants (Spurge).

The plant contains saponins, which may be beneficial in small amounts, but toxic in large. May be reduced or removed by leaching, rinsing or cooking. May affect mucous membranes.

Some saponins are highly toxic.

Eat in moderation.

all year

Flavour
Rating and Description:
mild, tender

How to Consume
raw
cooked

Special preparation
As the seed is small and could easily pass through the digestive system, it is best to grind them to allow absorption of nutrients.

Nutrition
Whole plant: rutin, Calcium, Potassium, Iron, Vitamin C, 14% protein, 2% fat, 64% carbohydrates (dry)

Used as ...
Whole plant: food

Action:
Whole plant: astringent, carminative, demulcent, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, emollient, expectorant, galactagogue, laxative, ophthalmic, refrigerant, vulnerary

May treat:
Whole plant: cysts, fever, inflammation, candida; externally: soothes itchy skin conditions

Collection
Whole plant: most tender from autumn to early summer

Drying
Whole plant: can be dried, but available most of the year, and best used fresh

Note
Whole plant can be eaten. Very tender. Entire life cycle from germination to seed is 5-6 weeks.

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

Use:
culinary use
medicinal use
household use

Other:
caution

Glossary of Medicinal Terms and Nutritive Substances

• astringent: causes localised contraction of blood vessels and tissue, reducing the flow of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• carminative: prevents or eases effects of flatulence
• demulcent: rich in mucilage, soothes or protects irritated or inflamed tissue (especially mucousa)
• depurative: eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood
• diuretic: increases secretion and elimination of urine
• emmenagogue: stimulates or normalises menstrual flow, in early pregnancy may induce an abortion
• emollient: applied to the skin softens, soothes, protects (externally, as demulcents do internally)
• expectorant: removes excess amount of mucus from respiratory system (see also decongestant)
• galactagogue: stimulates the production of breast milk or increases milk flow
• laxative: evacuates the bowels or softens stools
• ophthalmic: treats eye complaints
• refrigerant: produces a feeling of coolness
• rutin: antioxidant; strengthens capillaries; may protect against cancer and heart disease
• vulnerary: promotes healing of wounds (applied externally)