Practical
Plants

Vaccaria hispanica

Cow Cockle

an annual member of the Vaccaria genus in the family Caryophyllaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Lepidoptera, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Lepidoptera, Self

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.

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

The seeds and other parts of the plant contain saponins[10][11]. Although toxic, these substances are very poorly absorbed by the body and so tend to pass through without causing harm, they are also broken down if thoroughly heated[K]. Saponins are found in many plants, including several that are often used for food, such as certain beans. It is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K].

Edible uses

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

Leaves - used as a condiment[5][7][8]. Seed - ground into a meal[7]. Rich in starch[7]. The seed contains 13.8 - 16.1% protein and 1.6 - 3.2% fat[10]. The seed also contains saponins, see notes above on toxicity[10].

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

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.

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

The seed is anodyne, discutient, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactogogue, styptic and vulnerary[2][4][6][10]. A decoction is used to treat skin problems, breast tumours, menstrual problems, deficiency of lactation and sluggish labour[10]. The seeds are also taken internally as a galactogogue[10]. The flowers, leaves, roots and shoots also have the same properties[10]. The sap of the plant is said to be febrifuge and tonic[11]. It is used in the treatment of long-continued fevers of a low type[11]. The plant is used externally to cure itch[11].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Antipruritic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Galactogogue
Product or use
Oxytoxic
Product or use
Styptic
Product or use
Vulnerary

Environment

Range
C. and S. Europe, north to Belgium. An introduced and not infrequent casual in Britain[3].
Habitat
A weed of cultivated fields[12].
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 April in situ[1].

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position[9]. Sometimes cultivated for its seed which is often added to wild bird foods[9]. By this means, the plant is often found as an introduced casual in Britain[9].

References

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

    ↩

  2. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

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

    ↩

  4. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

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

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  6. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

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  7. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  11. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

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