Common Name: Gallant Soldier

General Information

Gallant Soldier is a slender, annual plant growing from 20 - 70cm tall.
The edible leaves are sometimes gathered from the wild and consumed locally, the plant also has medicinal applications.

Known Hazards

The plant is considered to be poisonous to goats[].

Botanical References

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Range

Central to S. America. Naturalized in N. America, Asia, Africa and Europe, including S. Britain.

Habitat

Arable land, waste places, pavements in towns etc[, ], often in partial shade[]. Disturbed soils, fields, orchards, gardens, lawns, roadsides from sea level to 2300 metres in N. America[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Native to tropical America, the plant has spread widely and can be found growing from the temperate through to the tropical zones[].
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils preferring well-drained conditions and full sun or partial shade.
A prolific seeder, often producing several thousand per plant, it can complete a life cycle (germination to shedding of seeds) in as little as 50 days[]. Viable seeds may be produced when the plant is only a few cm high. These seeds may germinate readily after falling to the ground. The plants grow best in moist conditions and can become very numerous under irrigation or in year-round rainfall conditions in the tropics[]

Edible Uses

The leaves, stem and flowering shoots - raw or cooked and eaten as a potherb, or added to soups and stews[, , , ]. The flower heads and buds are usually removed[]. The leaves can be dried and ground into a powder then used as a flavouring in soups etc[]. In South America the dried leaves (known as 'guascas') are an essential flavouring for certain dishes[]. A bland but very acceptable food[, ], it makes a fine salad either on its own or mixed with other leaves[].

The fresh juice can be mixed and drunk with tomato or vegetable juices[].

Medicinal

When rubbed onto the body, the plant is useful in treating nettle stings and other skin inflammations[, ]. The juice of the plant is applied to treat wounds, It helps to coagulate the blood of fresh cuts and wounds[].

Agroforestry Uses:

When growing well, the plant is seen as an indicator of high soil fertility[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ[]. Germination can take place at temperatures between 10° 35°c; it usually takes place within a month. Light, as well as alternating temperatures, may favour germination[].

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Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?