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Common Name:

General Information

Megacarpaea delavayi is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.80 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China in Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang and Yunnan Provinces.

Habitat

Swampy meadows, steep grassy slopes and open thickets at elevations from 3400 - 4800 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.80 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeeds outdoors in most of this country. It is a very ornamental plant[] that is enormously variable in leaf, flower and fruit shape[]. The flowers are normally hermaphrodite but are sometimes monoecious or reduced[]. The plant is occasionally cultivated as a vegetable in China[]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Prefers a light well-drained soil in a sunny position[].

Edible Uses

Edible cooked[, ]. The part of the plant is not specified but is likely to be the root[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame if this is possible. Otherwise sow it in early spring in a cold frame. Prick the seedlings out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer.
Root cuttings may succeed[].