Status
Conservation status
Not protected
Native status
Neophyte
Species Biology
Habitat
Dry banks and waste places, persisiting from cultivation.
Life cycle
Biennial
Ex-situ conservation
Not known
Use
Food crop
Vegetative nature
Herbaceous
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
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Further information
A native of the Mediterranean, a rare escape or relic of cultivation in Ireland. Grown in gardens as a vegetable as it has a long edible root. The root is said to taste like oysters, hence its alternative name 'oyster plant'. Young roots can be grated in to salads, older roots can be used in soups or stews.