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Vaccaria hispanica
  • Cow Cockle

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

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Vaccaria hispanica has 0 edible uses listed
Vaccaria hispanica has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The seeds and other parts of the plant contain saponins[1][2]. 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

Notes

Leaves - used as a condiment[3][4][5]. Seed - ground into a meal[4]. Rich in starch[4]. The seed contains 13.8 - 16.1% protein and 1.6 - 3.2% fat[1]. The seed also contains saponins, see notes above on toxicity[1].

Unknown part

Condiment

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Vaccaria hispanica.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The seed is anodyne, discutient, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactogogue, styptic and vulnerary[6][7][8][1]. A decoction is used to treat skin problems, breast tumours, menstrual problems, deficiency of lactation and sluggish labour[1]. The seeds are also taken internally as a galactogogue[1]. The flowers, leaves, roots and shoots also have the same properties[1].

The sap of the plant is said to be febrifuge and tonic[2]. It is used in the treatment of long-continued fevers of a low type[2].

The plant is used externally to cure itch[2].

Unknown part

Anodyne
Antiphlogistic
Antipruritic
Diuretic
Emmenagogue
Febrifuge
Galactogogue
Oxytoxic
Styptic
Vulnerary

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow April in situ[9].

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



Cultivation

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position[10]. Sometimes cultivated for its seed which is often added to wild bird foods[10]. By this means, the plant is often found as an introduced casual in Britain[10].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Vaccaria hispanica. 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 Vaccaria hispanica.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Vaccaria hispanica
Genus
Vaccaria
Family
Caryophyllaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5][1]
Medicinal uses
[6][7][8][1][2]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[11][10]
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
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
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
    annual
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.6 x meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Lepidoptera, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Illustration Vaccaria hispanica0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Vaccaria hispanica0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Illustration Vaccaria hispanica0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.8 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.4 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)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre (1977-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X ()
    7. ? 7.07.1 Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles (1985-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
    9. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.210.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    11. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)

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    "image:Illustration Vaccaria hispanica0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Vaccaria_hispanica&oldid=81504"
    Facts about "Vaccaria hispanica"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyCaryophyllaceae +
    Belongs to genusVaccaria +
    Has common nameCow Cockle +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +, Leaves + and Seeds +
    Has edible useSeasoning + and Unknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Lepidoptera + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has imageIllustration Vaccaria hispanica0.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
    Has mature height0.6 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAnodyne +, Antiphlogistic +, Antipruritic +, Diuretic +, Emmenagogue +, Febrifuge +, Galactogogue +, Oxytoxic +, Styptic + and Vulnerary +
    Has primary imageIllustration Vaccaria hispanica0.jpg +
    Has search namevaccaria hispanica + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameVaccaria hispanica +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +