Practical
Plants

Madia sativa

Chile Tarweed

an annual member of the Madia genus in the family Compositae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Madia
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.75 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

Seed - raw or cooked[5]. Although quite small, the seed was a staple food for some native North American Indian tribes[5]. Rich in oil, it can be roasted then ground into a powder and eaten dry, mixed with water, or combined with cereal flours[9][9][2][5]. The seed was also used as piñole[5]. The seed contains about 41% of a sweet edible oil, about 28% can be extracted from the seed in an oil press[3][6][7]. Of a high quality, it can be used as a substitute for olive oil[3][2]. The oil does not solidify until the temperature drops to -11°c[10].

Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Seed

Material uses

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

The seed is rich in an oil which is a good substitute for olive oil. It does not solidify until the temperature is lower than -11°c. A good lubricant, the oil is also used in soap making[9][10].

Product or use
Oil

Environment

Range
S. America - Chile.
Habitat
Sand, gravel, open grassland and disturbed soils[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow in mid spring in situ and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within a couple of weeks.

Cultivation

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

An easily grown plant[3], it succeeds in any good garden soil[1]. Prefers a deep open sharply drained soil in a sunny position[4]. This species is sometimes cultivated in Europe for the oil in its seed[3]. The flowers open in the morning or evening, closing when exposed to bright sunlight[4].

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2

  5. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

  8. Moore. D. M. Flora of Tierra del Fuego. Anthony Nelson. 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-904614-05-0

    ↩

  9. Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co. 1962-00-00 ISBN 0-911010-54-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩1↩2

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