Valerianella locusta
(L.) Betcke
Corn salad, White pot herb, European lamb's lettuce
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Summary
Source: WikipediaA small annual herb reaching 0.3 m (1 ft) tall. Flowers from April to June with seeds ripening May to July. Hermaphroditic and self-fertile. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils across mildly acid to basic pH ranges. Requires full sun and tolerates both dry and moist conditions. Hardy to UK zone 5.
Description
A low growing hardy annual herb. It produces rosettes of spoon shaped leaves. It grows 10-30 cm high and spreads to 40 cm across. The stem is low and branches from near the base. The stems are slender, forked and angular. The leaves at the base are in a ring and those on the stems are opposite in 3-4 pairs. They do not have leaf stalks. Leaves are round, and dark green. They are 10 cm long and 2 cm wide. The flowers are purplish-blue. They are in clusters at the ends of branches. They are funnel shaped and 2 mm long. The fruit are diamond shaped and 2-4 mm wide. One side is fertile and has one seed.
Edible Uses
Young leaves are eaten raw and have a very mild, delicate flavour that seems to melt in the mouth; they can be added to salads in generous quantity. Through successional sowings, leaves can be available all year round, requiring protection only in colder winters. The flowers and flowering stems are also eaten raw.
Traditional Uses
The leaves are eaten mostly fresh. They are used in salads. They can be lightly cooked and used in soups and omelettes. The flowers and flower stalks are eaten.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Distribution
It is a cold temperate plant. It will grow in most types of soil. It is frost resistant. A very cold resistant vegetable suitable for high altitude areas in the tropics. It cannot tolerate drought. Plants should be in a sunny position. It grows best in cool seasons. It grows in temperate regions as far north as 60°N. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. Tasmania Herbarium. Hobart Botanical Gardens.
Where It Grows
Africa, Andorra, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Caucasus, Central Africa, Chile, China, Congo, Croatia, Czech Republic, East Africa, Europe*, Falklands, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, Serbia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, USA,
Cultivation
Plants are mostly grown from seed. Plants should be 10-25 cm apart. They can be transplanted.
Propagation
For a continuous supply of leaves, sow seed successionally from early spring to late summer in situ. A late summer sowing may also succeed and would provide edible leaves through winter.
Other Uses
None known.
Production
Leaves are harvested one by one. Leaves are available in mid winter in temperate areas.
Other Information
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. In Papua New Guinea seeds are available in stores and it is just being tried out.
Notes
Also put in the family Valerianaceae.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Ackersalat, Bel boccone, Canonigos, Corn salad, Dolcetes, Doucette, Dulceta, Feldsalad, Fetticus, Field salad, Gaddinedda, Hog salad, Lamb’s lettuce, Mache, Marsh salad, Matovilec, Navadni motovilec, Nut lettuce, Raiponce, Rapunzel, Valerianela, Valerianita
References (51)
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