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Bunium bulbocastanum - L.

Common Name Pig Nut, Earth-nut
Family Apiaceae or Umbelliferae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rough grassland and banks on chalk[17].
Range Western and Southern Europe, including Britain, from the Netherlands to Italy.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Bunium bulbocastanum Pig Nut, Earth-nut


http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaspa/156565744/
Bunium bulbocastanum Pig Nut, Earth-nut

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Bunium bulbocastanum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Apium bulbocastanum. Ligusticum bulbocastanum.

Plant Habitats

 Meadow; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root
Edible Uses: Condiment

Root - raw or cooked[46, 61, 115]. A delicious taste very much like sweet chestnuts when cooked[2, K], but the tubers are very small and fiddly to harvest[183]. Seed and flowers. Used as a flavouring[61, 183], they are a cumin substitute[46]. Leaves - raw or cooked. They are used as a garnish and a flavouring in much the same way as parsley[46, 61, 183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Astringent

Astringent[61].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

See the plants native habitat for ideas on its cultivation needs. The pig nut has at times been cultivated for its edible root[61]. Although quite small in the wild, there is a potential to improve the size of this root through selective breeding and cultivation. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is tuberous with swollen potato-like roots [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. The seedlings only have one cotyledon[17]. Germination is usually free and quick, prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow on for their first season in pots. Plant them out into their final positions when dormant in the autumn. The seed can also be sown in situ, but this is best done only if you have lots of seed since far fewer plants will result. Division in spring or autumn.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

EUROPE: United Kingdom (U.K.), England (south), Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), AFRICA: Morocco.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Bunium ferulaceum Perennial0.6 -  LMHNM20 
Bunium persicumBlack Caraway, Black CuminPerennial0.6 -  LMHSNM30 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

1750

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Mar 26 2013 12:00AM

Occasionally found in Poland as ephemerophyte. [Source: L.Rutkowski 'Klucz do oznaczania roslin naczyniowych Polski nizowej', PWN, Warsaw 2013]

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