Unknown plant from Dorset

[Stephenb]

Great pics!  A weed or not, I would definitely grow Daucus carota if it looked like the plant in your photos.  I do see in your second photo of this plant, that the young inflorescences are convex or cup shaped.

Unfortunately our season isn't long enough to ripen carrot seed, so attempts to naturalise have failed here in the past (I've tried wild collected seed).

[Stephenb]

Crambe maritima was widely cultivated in the UK and US as a vegetable in the 19th century after wild stocks had been used up! I have a plant that I've harvested spring shoots from most years for the last 25 years - I do cover it in winter just in case, but it seems pretty hardy and relatively easy in cultivation. I emulated nature when I planted mine adding a lot of sand and mulching with seaweed which I still do every year. I also have a cultivar "Lily White". One of the very best perennial vegetables, a fantastic edimental. In the wild it grows both on sandy and gravelly beaches. Here is "Lily White" (light green) as well as standard and blanched Crambe maritima.

[Lesley Cox]

So you have blanched this Stephen? I've never eaten it except to try a little new leaf steamed, on one occasion and thought it revolting, but it was off the regular plant, not covered or blanched.

[Stephenb]

Yes, I cover the plant in early spring with a large pot - you can see it in the first picture. Liliy White (lighter leaves) and standard variety on the left. Traditionally they would use a special clay forcing pot (second picture). Yes, the taste is quite strong without blanching. I wouldn't use it alone as a green unblanched.

[Stephenb]

...and here's a picture from the net that very closely resembles my bristly ox-tongue from Dorset!



http://www.radleyvillage.org.uk/ourvillage/natural_history/herbs10.htm

edit by maggi: your link wasn't showing, Stephen. I've added it directly.