Tarweed Fiddleneck
Amsinckia lycopsoides

Family: Boraginaceae

What it is like

Amsinckia lycopsoides is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from July to September. 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. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 0.6

Where it is found

Dry open slopes and flats, often in disturbed soil

Europe. Western N. America. Naturalized on the Farne Islands, N.E. Britain.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Fresh juicy shoots. No more details are given. Seed - raw. The parched seed is ground into a powder then made into cakes and eaten without being cooked. If this species is like most other members of the family Boraginaceae, the seed is likely to ripen over a period of time and individual seeds fall from the plant when they are ripe. This will make harvesting any quantity of seed very fiddly and time consuming.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating:

How it is grown

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil in full sun.

Propagating it: Seed - sow late spring in situ.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 6-9

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

A. parviflora.