Redmaids, Fringed redmaids
Calandrinia ciliata

Family: Portulacaceae

What it is like

Calandrinia ciliata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). It is frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 0.3

Where it is found

Open grassy places and cultivated fields below 1800 metres in California, mainly in grassland.

South-western N. America - California. S. America - Peru.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Bolivia, Central America, Ecuador, North America, Peru, South America, Tasmania, USA.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Leaves and young shoots - raw, cooked or used as a garnish. A tasty salad. The leaves contain oxalic acid and so some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - raw or ground into a meal. The seed can also be cooked as a piñole. The seed is very small and fiddly to harvest, especially since it ripens intermittently over a period of several weeks. However, it is rich in oil and was often collected in large quantities by native North American Indian tribes.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 0

How it is grown

Prefers a hot sunny situation on a poor dry sandy soil. This species is not very hardy in Britain, but it should be possible to grow it as a tender annual in this country. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance, they are best treated as half-hardy annuals and sown in situ in late spring. In frosty climates this species can become a self-sowing annual, the seed germinating in spring.

Propagating it: Seed - best sown in situ in spring since it strongly resents root disturbance. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 weeks at 20°c. Cuttings.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 0-0

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

The plant contains oxalic acid, so it should only be used in moderation. Oxalic acid can lock up certain of the nutrients in food and, if eaten in excess, can lead to nutritional deficiencies. It is, however, perfectly safe in small amounts and its acid taste adds a nice flavour to salads. Cooking the plant will reduce the quantity of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.

This plant can be weedy or invasive. Some evidence is the US: Florida and Western USA.

Its other names

Local names

Desert rockpurslane, fringed redmaids, redmaids,

Synonyms

C. caulescens. H.B.K.