Brookweed (Samolus valerandi)

Taxonomy and growth

Family: Primulaceae
Genus: Samolus
Life cycle: perennial
Height: 0.3 m
Fertility: self fertile
Flower type: hermaphrodite
Pollinators: Self

Uses

Edible uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked^[4]^[6]. A rather bitter flavour[K].

Plant part: Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The leaves are antiscorbutic^[4]^[6].

Product or use: Antiscorbutic

Environment

Range: Most regions of the world, including Britain, usually near the sea.
Habitat: Wet places, especially near the sea^[2], also in shallow water, avoiding acid soils and shade^[5].
Light: full sun
Shade tolerance: no shade
Water: aquatic
Hardiness: Zone 6+
Soil textures: sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH: neutral, alkaline
Tolerances: high wind, maritime exposure
Wind: Yes
Maritime: Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil: No
Drought: intolerant

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a cold frame in the spring, standing the pot in about 3cm of water. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and gradually increase the depth of water as the plants grow until it is level with the tops of the pots. Plant out in the summer if there has been sufficient growth, otherwise plant out in late spring of the following year. Division in spring.

Cultivation

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil in a wet position or in shallow water^[1]^[3]. Dislikes shade or acid soils.

Samolus parviflorusThin-Leaf Brookweed
Anagallis arvensisScarlet Pimpernel
Androsace sarmentosaRock Jasmine
Cyclamen hederifoliumCyclamen

References

F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
↩
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
↩
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
↩1 ↩2
Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-7158-0789-7
↩
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
↩1 ↩2