Lasthenia glabrata
Lindl.
Yellowray Goldfields, Coulter's goldfields
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Cliff Hutson, some rights reserved (CC BY)
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Zack Abbey, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Zack Abbey
Description
Lasthenia glabrata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). It is in flower from May to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Edible Uses
Seed - raw or cooked. The seed can be parched and eaten dry or made into a powder and eaten dry or cooked like a porridge.
Distribution
South-western N. America - California.
Where It Grows
NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (California (west))
Cultivation
An easily grown plant, succeeding in any well-drained soil, including nutritionally poor ones. It prefers a sunny position. Another report says that it requires a moderately good garden soil and a warm sheltered position. An annual plant, germinating in the autumn and growing through the winter in California. A second flowering can be obtained from plants if they are trimmed back after flowering and before setting seed.
Propagation
Seed - sow early to mid spring in situ. Seed can also be sown in situ in early to mid autumn but this sowing will normally require some protection from winter cold.
