Blitum bonus-henricus

Blitum bonus-henricus is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae. It is known by several common names, including Good-King-Henry, Poor-man's Asparagus, and Lincolnshire Spinach. This plant is native to much of Europe and parts of Asia and North Africa. It is known elsewhere, including North America, as an introduced species and sometimes a weed.

Description

Blitum bonus-henricus is a perennial herb growing up to 70 centimeters tall. The leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and are arrowhead-shaped. The inflorescence is a dense spike of flowers. Each tiny flower is less than 2 millimeters wide and greenish or reddish in color. The fruit is a tiny, lens-shaped utricle containing a single seed.

Cultivation and uses

Blitum bonus-henricus has been cultivated as a vegetable in the past, although it is not much in use today. The leaves, shoots, and seeds of the plant are all edible. The leaves can be used like spinach, and the shoots can be treated like asparagus. The seeds can be ground into a meal and mixed with flour. The plant is also used as a medicinal herb.

See also

• List of vegetables
• List of medicinal plants

References

• Flora of North America
• Flora of China