Common Name: Brookweed

General Information

Samolus valerandi is a short creeping, annual to short-lived perennial plant growing 5 - 50cm tall. The stem can be simple or branched[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild as a local source of food and medicines. A very ornamental plant, it is often grown in water gardens[].
Samolus valerandi is widespread, able to exploit anthropogenic habitats and does not face any major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Widespread through Europ and Africa, east through Turkey and Arabia to India. Also in eastern China

Habitat

Wet places, especially near the sea[], also in shallow water, avoiding acid soils and shade[]. Water level on stream banks, in swamps, in drying riverbeds, along coasts and in dunes at elevations up to 3,000 metres in tropical Africa[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Samolus valerandi can be found from the cool temperate zone through the subtropics to mountainous regions in the tropics, at elevations from sea level to 3,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 16 - 24°c, but can tolerate 12 - 32°c[]. The plant can tolerate considerable frost[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 500 - 1,300mm, but tolerates 300 - 1,500mm[].
Prefers a sunny position[]. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil in a wet position or in shallow water[, ], and can survive submersion for some months[]. Dislikes shade or acid soils. Tolerant of moderate levels of salt in the soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 7 - 8.5, tolerating 6.5 - 9[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked[, ]. A rather bitter flavour[]. Not highly valued, it is more likely to be eaten if better foods are not available[].

Medicinal

The leaves are antiscorbutic[, ].
The plant is used as a remedy for itch, ringworm and other skin rashes[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a cold frame in the spring, standing the pot in about 3cm of water. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and gradually increase the depth of water as the plants grow until it is level with the tops of the pots. Plant out in the summer if there has been sufficient growth, otherwise plant out in late spring of the following year.
Division in spring.