Chenopodium pallidicaule
Cañihua
an annual member of the Chenopodium genus in the family Chenopodiaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Chenopodiaceae
- Genus
- Chenopodium
- Life cycle
- annual
- Height
- 0.6 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Wind, Self
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves and seeds of all members of this genus are more or less edible. However, many of the species in this genus contain saponins, though usually in quantities too small to do any harm. Although toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down to a large extent in the cooking process. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K]. The plants also contain some oxalic acid, which in large quantities can lock up some of the nutrients in the food. However, even considering this, they are very nutritious vegetables in reasonable quantities. Cooking the plants will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[7].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - cooked and used like spinach[5]. The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity. Young leaves contain up to 30% protein (dry weight)[5]. Seed - cooked[9][10][11][1][3]. It can be toasted and ground into a nutty tasting powder that can be used as a breakfast cereal. It can also be used to make biscuits, mixed with flour it is used to make bread and a hot beverage similar to hot chocolate can also be made from it[4][5]. Very small, about 1mm in diameter, but abundantly produced[5]. The seed contains little or no saponins and so can be used without pre-treatment[5]. The seed is extremely nutritious, it contains about 16% of a high quality protein (it is notably rich in lysine, isoleucine and tryptophan), almost 60% carbohydrate and 8% fat[5].
- Product or use
- Drink
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Seed
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Gold/green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant[2].
- Product or use
- Dye
Environment
- Range
- S. America - Andes.
- Habitat
- A common weed of cultivated ground, especially on rich soils, it grows in areas where frosts can occur in 9 months of the year, including during the growing season[5].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Tolerances
- high wind, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
- Salinity
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring in situ. Most of the seed usually germinates within a few days of sowing.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds on most soils, including shallow soils, but dislikes shade[5][6]. Prefers a moderately fertile soil[6]. Once the plant is about 5cm tall it is very drought tolerant[5]. The plant has short stout stems and resists wind and heavy rain[5]. It is also more resistant than barley or quinoa to low night temperatures[5]. Plants do not like excess humidity[5]. They tolerate a pH in the range from 4.8 to 8.5 and shows some salt tolerance[5]. Adult plants are unaffected by night frosts in the growing season, the seed can germinate at a soil temperature of 5°c, whilst the plant will flower at 10°c and ripen its seed at 15°c[5]. Cañihua was once often cultivated for its edible seed in S. America[4], though it is seldom grown now[8]. There are some named varieties[10][5]. The seed is somewhat laborious to harvest and dehusk, it is enveloped in a papery husk and this is removed by soaking in water and then rubbing[5]. Most varieties take about 150 days from seed sowing to harvest, but at least one quick-maturing type can be harvested in 95 days[5]. Yields of 2.4 tonnes per hectare are average, but twice this has been recorded[5]. Plants seem to be quite resistant to most pests and diseases[5]. The flowers are closed at fertility and so seem to be almost exclusively self-pollinating[5]. Plants are day-length neutral and have matured crops as far north as latitude 64°north in Finland[5]. Although used in much the same way, this species is not very closely related to quinoa, C. quinoa[5].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Popenoe. H. et al Lost Crops of the Incas National Academy Press 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-309-04264-X
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0 333 62640 0
Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Towle. M. A. The Ethno-Botany of Pre-Columbian Peru.