Veronica didyma
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
- Genus
- Veronica
- Life cycle
- annual
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
Young leaves and stems - raw or cooked[1][2].
- 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.
A decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea and metrorrhagia[4].
- Product or use
- Women's complaints
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China, Japan.
- Habitat
- Sunny places and waste ground in lowland all over Japan[5].
- 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
Seed - sow spring in situ. An autumn sowing might also succeed.
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know how hardy it is in Britain, but judging by its native range it should be possible to grow it as a half-hardy annual, and could perhaps also be autumn sown to overwinter. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Easily grown in a moderately fertile moisture retentive well drained soil[3]. Prefers cool summers[3].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00