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Uses

Toxic parts

The leaves and seeds of all members of this genus are more or less edible. However, many of the species in this genus contain saponins, though usually in quantities too small to do any harm. Although toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down to a large extent in the cooking process. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans. 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]. The plants also contain some oxalic acid, which in large quantities can lock up some of the nutrients in the food. However, even considering this, they are very nutritious vegetables in reasonable quantities. Cooking the plants will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[12].

Edible uses

Leaves

Raw, Cooked as a Vegetable, Salad, Salad leaf

Seed

Material uses

Gold/green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant[13]. A red dye is obtained from the fruit, it is used in cosmetics and as a paint[14][8].

Unknown part

Dye

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The plant has been used as a lotion for treating black eyes and head bruises[8]. The juice of the seeds and an infusion of the plant has been used to treat lung congestion[8].

Unknown part

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. Most of the seed usually germinates within a few days of sowing.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Chenopodium capitatum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils but disliking shade[15][6]. It prefers a moderately fertile soil[6]. A very ornamental plant[9], strawberry blite has at times been cultivated for its edible leaves[16].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Chenopodium capitatum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Chenopodium capitatum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Chenopodium capitatum
Genus
Chenopodium
Family
Chenopodiaceae
Imported References
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
Soil Texture
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.6 x
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (32202/01/01)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.4 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press ISBN 0-8623-0343-9 (32202/01/01)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-090-x (32202/01/01)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.58.68.7 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (32202/01/01)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (32202/01/01)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
    11. ? 11.011.1 Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum ISBN 0-7718-8117-7 (32202/01/01)
    12. ? Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (32202/01/01)
    13. ? 13.013.1 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 (32202/01/01)
    14. ? 14.014.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (32202/01/01)
    15. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)
    16. ? Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (32202/01/01)

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-17" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.



    "image:Illustration Blitum capitatum0 clean.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Facts about "Chenopodium capitatum"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteFalse +
    Article requires citationsFalse +
    Article requires cleanupFalse +
    Belongs to familyChenopodiaceae +
    Belongs to genusChenopodium +
    Has binomial nameChenopodium capitatum +
    Has common nameStrawberry Blite +, Strawberry Spinach + and Beetberry +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFruit +, Leaves + and Seed +
    Has edible useSalad +, Fresh fruit +, Vegetable +, Salad leaf +, Flour + and Colouring +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageIllustration Blitum capitatum0 clean.JPG +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useDye +
    Has mature height0.6 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntiphlogistic + and Pectoral +
    Has primary imageIllustration Blitum capitatum0 clean.JPG +
    Has search namechenopodium capitatum +, strawberry blite +, strawberry spinach + and beetberry +
    Has seed requiring scarificationFalse +
    Has seed requiring stratificationFalse +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameChenopodium capitatum +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
    Tolerates air pollutionFalse +
    Tolerates maritime exposureFalse +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilFalse +
    Tolerates windFalse +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Chenopodium capitatum +, Chenopodium capitatum +, Chenopodium capitatum +, Chenopodium capitatum +, Chenopodium capitatum +, Chenopodium capitatum + and Chenopodium capitatum +