Megacarpaea delavayi
Family: Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
What it is like
Megacarpaea delavayi is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0.8
Where it is found
Swampy meadows, steep grassy slopes and open thickets at elevations from 3400 - 4800 metres.
E. Asia - China in Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang and Yunnan Provinces.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Edible cooked. The part of the plant is not specified but is likely to be the root.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeeds outdoors in most of this country. It is a very ornamental plant that is enormously variable in leaf, flower and fruit shape. The flowers are normally hermaphrodite but are sometimes monoecious or reduced. The plant is occasionally cultivated as a vegetable in China. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a light well-drained soil in a sunny position.
Propagating it: Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame if this is possible. Otherwise sow it in early spring in a cold frame. Prick the seedlings out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Root cuttings may succeed.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness:
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist