Cow cockle, Forbidden Palace Flower, Cow basil
Vaccaria hispanica

Family: Caryophyllaceae

What it is like

A erect annual herb. It is hairless. The leaves are bluish green. They are oval or sword shaped and do not have teeth. The flowers are pink to dark purple. They are 8-16 mm across. They have long stalks. The fruit is a capsule 15 mm long. There are 15-20 seeds.

There are 4 Vaccaria species. The seeds are used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on waste land and other cultivated land. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, East Africa, Ethiopia, Europe (country/location of origin), Hawaii, India, Korea, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, New Zealand, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA

How it is used for food

The leaves and young stems are used in stews.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, flavouring, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Colleja borde, Collejon, Drobnocvetna kravsa, Mai lan cai, Nilkle dika, Resresik, Vacaria, Ye-behar kimem

Synonyms

Saponaria hispanica Miller; Saponaria no. 4 [in errat.]. 1768; Saponaria segetalis Necker; Saponaria vaccaria L.; Vaccaria pyramidata Medicus; Vaccaria segetalis (Necker) Garcke; and others