Practical
Plants

Gynandriris sisyrinchium

Spanish Nut

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Iridaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.2 m
Spread
0.1 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

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.

Possibly poisonous[9].

Edible uses

The root is edible raw or cooked and is also used as a spice[5][2][3]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Root

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat
Dry places near the coast[8] and up to 2,000 metres[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[1]. Stored seed should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division.

Cultivation

Easily grown in a stiff limey soil in full sun[7]. Tolerates some shade[10]. Plants need plenty of moisture whilst in growth in winter and spring, but need a dry soil when they die down in the summer[4]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c[6], and in general does not do well in this country[1]. It requires a summer baking to ripen the roots and ensure good flowering in the following year[6]. It should be planted about 10 - 15cm deep[10]. It is probably best grown in a bulb frame[K]. The flowers usually open in the afternoon and are faded by the morning[11].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  5. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  7. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩

  8. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  9. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  10. Innes. C. The World of Iridaceae

    ↩1↩2

  11. Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1

    ↩1↩2

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