Oriental lady's thumb (Polygonum longisetum)

Family: Polygonaceae | Edibility: Edible (1/5)

Polygonum longisetum is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). It is in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked. A famine food, used when all else fails. Seed - raw or cooked. It is rather small and fiddly to utilize. — Young leaves - raw or cooked.; A famine food, used when all else fails.; Seed - raw or cooked.; It is rather small and fiddly to utilize.

Habitat & North American Range

Wet grassy sunny places in lowland all over Japan. Moist valleys, along streambanks, shaded places along ditches and water sides from sea level to 3100 metres in China. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)