Effect:
metabolism-boosting, cleansing, detoxifying, astringent, purifying, diuretic, expectorant, stomachic
Areas of application:
For cleansing the organism, cough, cleanses and stimulates the kidneys, liver and spleen, stimulates appetite and digestion, food for diabetics, persistent cough, bronchitis, heartburn, cleanses the skin, lightens freckles
Plant parts used:
Leaves, buds, roots
Collection time:
April to September
To find:
Meadow salsify grows in open meadows, on roadsides, on semi-dry grassland up to high altitudes.
Ingredients:
Inulin, bitter substances, mucilage, vitamins, minerals
Miscellaneous:
☕ Tea: Pour 1/4 liter of cold water over 1 teaspoon of root, bring to the boil and let it steep for another 5 minutes. Up to 3 cups a day are possible and sufficient.
Meadow salsify is an annual plant and can grow up to 70 cm tall. Its plant parts contain milky sap and it has a fleshy taproot. The stem is hollow inside, it is smooth and slightly swollen at the top. The alternate leaves are half-surrounding the stem, narrowly linear or lanceolate, glabrous, tapering to a point, smooth-edged and bluish green. They are also grass-like and have a length of 50 cm. A whitish stripe runs lengthwise through the middle of the leaf. The leaves are often bent or kinked downwards from the middle. The 3 to 5 cm wide, flat flower heads sit on relatively long, bare, leafy, axillary stems that do not thicken or only slightly towards the head. The flower heads, which are 4 to 7 cm large depending on the subspecies, are made up of yellow ray florets and are bordered by eight pointed bracts. The inner bracts in particular are usually sooty black due to hairs. The brown-violet stamens at the tip are characteristic and give the head a speckled appearance. The inflorescences open at around eight o'clock and close again at midday. The flowering period is from May to August.
Meadow salsify is edible, especially the young leaves and buds as a vegetable and the root. The flower stalks taste sweet and are best prepared as a salad.
The plant was cultivated as food until the Middle Ages, when the larger salsify came along.
If you were already very sick, Meadow salsify was not used, it was rather taken as a preventive measure.
Distilled water obtained from the plant is used in cleansing lotions for dry skin.