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Cardamine hirsuta
A prolific weed in gardens, this plant has delicate and attractive leaf stalks arranged in a rossette- each stalk has smaller round-shaped leaves at the base and they increase in size towards the tip of the stalk. Flowers are tiny four-petalled on a corymb. Long seed pods (like mustard) can be seenn on wiry stalks.
disturbed earth - weed in most gardens. Native to Europe and Asia but is found in the US and here is Australia.
This bittercress is said to be edible after wilting in heavily-salted water. It has been an important source of greens during winter for foragers. The attached link has some information and recipes: ttph://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/ancient/wild-food-entry.php?term=Hairy%20Bittercress Wonder what it tastes like - in fact, I am going to try some today !! don't know why it's called "hirsuta" ? - no obvious hairs.. http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?searc...
Spotted on Sep 20, 2012
Submitted on Sep 23, 2012
2 Comments
Satyen, I just cooked a little bit - just as stated in the link, in heavily salted water. Tastes just like spinach (palak). I added a little butter. So far no side effects - no tingling in the mouth or swelling !! Should try some more when the plant has enough leaves on it. Isn't it amazing what you can find in the garden as weeds ? - my friends would think I am crazy - but it's fun and good to know what's edible...
Nice spotting! Good luck with the new recipe :-)