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Uses

Toxic parts

The plant is rich in calcium oxylate, this is toxic and if consumed makes the mouth and digestive tract feel as though hundreds of tiny needles are being stuck into it. However, calcium oxylate is easily destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant[1].

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - cooked. A slightly sweetish flavour, resembling parched corn[2]. A bread can be made from the dried and powdered seeds, it tastes like corncake with a strong flavour of cocoa[2].

Spadix (the flowering stem) and berries - cooked[3][4][5][6]. A great delicacy, but they must be very well cooked otherwise they are poisonous[7]. The Indians would boil them for 9 hours[7].

Root - must be well cooked in order to destroy an acrimonious principle, see the notes above on toxicity[1]. The root is rich in starch[3][4][8][5][6] and can weigh up to 2.7 kilos[1]. It is highly astringent and has an unpleasant flavour[9]. The root can be dried and ground into a powder for use when making bread, soups etc[7].

Flowers

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Peltandra virginica.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Peltandra virginica.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in late summer in pots of soil that are submerged to their rims in water[10]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in trays of water in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Division in spring[10]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Stem cuttings rooted in wet mud in the summer[10].

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



Cultivation

Requires a wet lime-free humus-rich soil by the side of water or in shallow still or slowly flowing water in a sunny position[10]. Plants are best grown in clumps[11].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Peltandra virginica. 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 Peltandra virginica.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Peltandra virginica
Genus
Peltandra
Family
Araceae
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
aquatic
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
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type

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    "image:Peltandra virginica.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Peltandra virginica.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Peltandra virginica.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Peltandra virginica.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Peltandra virginica.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Peltandra virginica.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Peltandra virginica.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Peltandra virginica.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Peltandra virginica.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Peltandra virginica.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-23310-3 (1976-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
    9. ? 9.09.1 McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press ISBN 0-253-28925-4 (1977-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    11. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    12. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

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