Gundelia tournefortii
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Gundelia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.35 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
The thick flowering stem, with the young and still undeveloped flower buds, is sold in the local markets in Jerusalem[4]. It is a sought after vegetable[4]. Immature flowering heads - cooked. Used like globe artichokes[3]. Leaves - cooked[6][7][3]. Root - cooked[2]. Seed - cooked[2].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
- Plant part
- Seed
- Plant part
- Stem
Environment
- Range
- W. Asia.
- Habitat
- Plains and mountains to 3000 metres[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division.
Cultivation
Prefers a sandy peaty soil[1]. Requires a sunny position and a well-drained soil[5]. Cultivated in Jerusalem as a vegetable[4].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq.
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202