Narrow-fruit Cornsalad, Italian corn salad
Valeriana eriocarpa

Family: Caprifoliaceae

What it is like

A soft annual herb. It grows 20 cm high. It has wide branches. There are rough hairs along the ridges on the stems. The leaves are sword shaped or spoon shaped. They are in a ring near the base. They also are on the stems but smaller and clasping the stem with an ear. The flowers occur as 10-20 very small flowers. They are 1 mm long and lilac in colour. They occur in clusters on the ends of the stems.

There are about 50-60 Valerianella species. Also put in the family Valerianaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Australia, Balkans, Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Caucasus, Chile, Crete, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Libya, Mediterranean, Morocco, North Africa, North America, Romania, Sicily, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, USA, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The leaves are used as a substitute for lettuce. They are eaten in salads. The larger leaves in good soil are used as a potherb.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gaddinedda, Hairy-fruit cornsalad, Spezzaquartari

Synonyms

Fedia eriocarpa (Desv.) Roem. & Schult.; Fedia rugulosa Spreng.; Valerianella campanulata Biv.; Valerianella eriocarpa Desv,; and others Valerianella muricata LOUDON;