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NAME: Knotgrass

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Polygonum Aviculare / Polygonaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):  knotweed, lowgrass, birdweed (3)

CONDITIONS: sun/shade, any soil
 

PARTS:

EDIBLE cid:image001.jpg@01D3EC3E.A305A520

TASTE

RAW/COOK

SEASON

All

 

 

 

 

Shoots

 

 

 

 

Leaves

mild

RAW/COOK

summer

Stalk/Stem

 

 

 

 

Buds

       

Flowers

 

 

 

 

Fruits

 

 

 

 

Pods

 

 

   

Seeds

mild

RAW/COOK

summer

Nuts

 

 

 

 

Roots

 

 

 

 

Bark

 

 

 

 

 

PORTION: small-medium

 

COMMENT: This plant is very drought resistant. //  Leaves - Used as a potherb. Seed - raw or cooked. Rather small and fiddly to utilize, they can be used in all the ways that buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is used, either whole or dried and ground into a powder for use in pancakes, biscuits and piņole. The leaves are a tea substitute.(1)

 

CAUTION: Although no specific mention has been made for this species, there have been reports that some members of this genus can cause photosensitivity in susceptible people. Many species also contain oxalic acid, boil with lid off to minimize.(1)

 

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL:  Leaves very rich in zinc. Anthelmintic;  Antiphlogistic;  Astringent;  Cardiotonic;  Cholagogue;  Diuretic;  Emetic;  Emollient; Expectorant;  Febrifuge;  Haemostatic;  Lithontripic;  Purgative;  TB;  Vasoconstrictor; 

Vulnerary. (1) Also see -

 

LOOK-A-LIKES:  

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES: 

 

OTHER USES: Dye. Yields a blue dye that is not much inferior to indigo. The part used is not specified, but it is likely to be the leaves. Yellow and green dyes are obtained from the whole plant. The roots contain tannins, but the quantity was not given.(1)

 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

  1. https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Polygonum+aviculare
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonum_aviculare
  3. http://www.ediblewildfood.com/knotgrass.aspx  (good photos)
  4. https://www.quickandtastyfood.com/knotgrass-madimak
  5. https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Knotgrass (part of a Harry Potter potion?!) https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Knotgrass_Mead