Abstract
THERE is no reason to think that Stachys palustris, L., is anywhere used now for food in the British Isles. The cultivation of the potato must have long since put it out of court for any such purpose. But that it was once so employed there seems abundant evidence. The part eaten, however, was not the “rhizomes”, but the subterranean tubers. That the use of these is now quite forgotten may be inferred from the fact that the tubers themselves are not even mentioned in standard sys tematic books. Yet Irmisch (see Botanical Gazette, vol. ii. p. 293) gives the potato and Stachys palustris as well known instances of dicotyledonous plants producing stem tubers which become detached by the dying away of the older parts of the parent plant which produced them.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DYER, W. “Stachys palustris” as Food. Nature 28, 435–436 (1883). https://doi.org/10.1038/028435c0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/028435c0
This article is cited by
-
Marsh woundwort, Stachys palustris L. (Lamiaceae): an overlooked food plant
Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution (2011)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.