Common Name:

General Information

Adesmia lotoides is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial plant with a rhizomatous rootstock. It can grow up to 15cm tall when flowering.
The plant is possibly harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern S. America - Argentina, Chile

Habitat

Open soil and sand, coastal scrub to 40 metres in Tierra Del Fuego and north to 50° in Chile and 41° in Argentina[]. Alpine zone in Patagonia, where it grows on slopes with cushion-plant communities.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Adesmia lotoides is found in the cold temperate zone of southern S. America, where it can be found from near sea level up to the alpine zone. The average daily temperature in the alpine zone is around 5°c; precipitation is approximately 900 - 1,000mm with snow cover for up to 8 months of the year. The most conspicuous feature of the
summer weather pattern is are powerful winds with a velocity often exceeding 60 km/h.
The plant is likely to need a well-drained light soil in a sunny position and should be tolerant of maritime exposure[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

Rhizome[]. No further details.

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

All members of this genus serve as ground cover and have potential in soil erosion control[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest pre-soaking the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sowing it in a greenhouse in spring. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow the plants on for at least the first winter in a greenhouse and then plant them out in late spring or early summer.