Practical
Plants

Xanthium commune

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
1.5 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Insects

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.

Poisonous[4][5]. Most members of this genus are toxic to grazing animals and are usually avoided by them[2]. The seed also contains toxins[2].

Edible uses

Seed[1]. It is dried, then ground into a powder and mixed with cereal flours when making bread, biscuits etc[1]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Plant part
Seed

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - southwards from Quebec and Saskatchewan.
Habitat
Low ground, stream banks, waste places, cultivated land etc[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. The seed requires plenty of moisture in order to germinate.

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it is likely to succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils but requires a sunny position. Plants often self sow.

References

  1. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩1↩2

  2. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

  3. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  4. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  5. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩

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