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common cornsalad
ExplorePlants
common cornsalad
Valerianella locusta
Common cornsalad is a leafy green plant that grows close to the ground. It has small, tender leaves that are often used in salads. This plant is easy to spot in gardens and fields!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The common cornsalad has small, rounded to spatula-shaped leaves that form a dense, low-growing rosette. Its tiny, pale blue or white flowers cluster at the stem tips, often going unnoticed due to their size.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderDipsacalesFamilyCaprifoliaceaeGenusValerianella
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient Romans might have munched on its tender leaves long ago!
It's sometimes known as "Mache" in fancy restaurants!
Its tiny blue-white flowers are so small, they're easily missed!
This leafy green is a distant cousin to the calming valerian herb.
Special abilities
Ability
Winter Warrior
Common cornsalad can withstand cold temperatures, allowing it to grow and be harvested even when other plants hibernate.
Ability
Speedy Sprout
Common cornsalad completes its life cycle quickly, producing seeds fast to ensure new generations emerge rapidly.
Ability
Seed Scatterer
Common cornsalad has seeds that readily self-sow, helping it spread and pop up again year after year on its own.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-30 cm
- Spread
- 10-20 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.2-0.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to early summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Visits its tiny flowers for nectar and pollen.
eaten by
European rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Rabbits often browse on its tender, soft leaves.
eaten by
Roe deer
Capreolus capreolus
Deer enjoy grazing on its readily available foliage.
eaten by
Spanish slug
Arion vulgaris
Slugs can munch on its leaves, especially in damp conditions.
Traits
Biennial
Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
Cold Hardy
Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
Agricultural
This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Also known as
Lamb's LettuceMache
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always wash plants before eating them, and ask an adult for help!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is common cornsalad?
10-30 cm
How wide does common cornsalad spread?
10-20 cm
How big are the flowers on common cornsalad?
0.2-0.5 cm
When does common cornsalad bloom?
Late spring to early summer
Is common cornsalad edible?
Yes
Is common cornsalad toxic?
None
What is common cornsalad's lifecycle?
Annual
How is common cornsalad pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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