Practical
Plants

Kosteletzkya pentacarpos

a perennial member of the Kosteletzkya genus in the family Malvaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Malvaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[6][8][2]. They are used as a potherb or to thicken soups[11][5]. The leaves can be eaten raw but are rather fibrous and somewhat hairy, though the taste is pleasant[K]. Flowers - raw. Added to salads[10]. The following uses are recorded for Althaea officinalis, they are said to also apply to this species[10]:- Root - raw or cooked[10]. When boiled and then fried with onions it is said to make a palatable dish that is often used in times of shortage[8]. The root is used as a vegetable[11][3][5], it is also dried then ground into a powder, made into a paste and roasted to make the sweet 'marshmallow'[8][9][12][4][10]. The water left over from cooking any part of the plant can be used as an egg-white substitute in making meringues etc[11]. The water from the root is the most effective[5], it is concentrated by boiling until it has a similar consistency to egg white. A tea is made from the flowers[5]. A tea can also be made from the root[5].

Product or use
Egg
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A strong fibre is obtained from the stems. It is used for making string, nets etc[13]. The following uses are recorded for Althaea officinalis, they are said to also apply to this species[10]:- A glue can be made from the root[13]. An oil from the seed is used in making paints and varnishes[13].

Product or use
Adhesive
Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Oil

Environment

Range
Europe - Italy to the Caspian sea.
Habitat
Seaside bogs of the Caspian littoral, along the west and south coasts[13].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring 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 their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a deep rich moist sandy soil in a warm sunny position[1][7]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[7].

References

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

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  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

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  3. Carruthers. S. P. (Editor) Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading 1986-00-00 ISBN 0704909820

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  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

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

    ↩1↩2

  8. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

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  10. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

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  13. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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