The image, above, shows the full Nipplewort plant (Lapsanacommunis), with the young plant, just in flower, top left, a
more mature plant in flower, right and a close-up of the flowers,
bottom left..
| Common Name: Nipplewort |
| Scientific Name: Lapsana communis |
| Other Names: Common Nipplewort |
| Family: Asteraceae |
| Range: Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa, western and central Asia. |
Physical Characteristics
Lapsana communis is a hardy Perennial plant, growing to 90cm (3 ft) by 30cm (1 ft) in size. It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. The plant flowers from June to September and the seeds ripen from August to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by bees, flies and lepidopters. This plant also self pollinates.
|
| Edible Parts: Leaves, Shoots |
 Edibility Rating: 2 
|
 Known Hazards: None Known.
|
Welcome to the summary page for FabulousFusionFood's Wild Food guide to Nipplewort along with all the Nipplewort containing recipes presented on this site, with 2 recipes in total.
This is a continuation of an entire series of pages that will, I hope, allow my visitors to better navigate this site. As well as displaying recipes by name, country and region of origin I am now planning a whole series of pages where recipes can be located by meal type and main ingredient. This page gives a listing of all the Cornish recipes added to this site.
These recipes, all contain Nipplewort as a major wild food ingredient.
The Nipplewort, Lapsana communis (also known as the Common Nipplewort) is the single member of the Lapsana genus of the Asteraceae (daisy) family of flowering plants. It is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe and northern Asia that typically grows between 1 and 1.2m tall with hairy stems and clear (not milky) sap. The leaves are spirally arranged; larger leaves at the base of the flowering stem are often pinnate, with a large oval terminal leaflet and one to four small side leaflets, while smaller leaves higher on the stem are simple oval; all leaves have a toothed margin. The flowers are yellow, produced in a capitulum 1-2 cm diameter, the capitula being numerous in loose clusters at the top of the stem. The scientific name comes from Lapsane, an edible herb described by Marcus Terentius Varro of ancient Rome, whilst the English name 'Nipplewort' derives from the plant's closed flower buds, which resemble nipples.
Despite having a rather bitter taste the young and leaves and shoots are edible. The leaves can be used raw in salads or they can be cooked like spinach. The young shoots can also be cooked. However, the they are best harvested before the plant comes into flower. The leaves can also be chopped and used as a flavouring for soups and casseroles and are said to have a rather radish-like flavour (but they are bitter).
It is typically fond on waste ground, roadsides and walls. The plant avoids acid soils and can grow either in full sun or semi-shade.
[2]. Huxley, A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992
[3]. Tanaka, T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
[4]. Lim T.K. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants, Vols 1–8.
[5]. Thomas, G. S. Perennial Garden Plants
[6]. Milner, E. Trees of Britain and Ireland
[7]. Rose, F. & O'Reilly, C. The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) – How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland
[8]. Streeter, D. & Garrard, I. The Wild Flowers of the British Isles
[9]. Clapham, A.R.; Tutin, T.G. & Moore, D.M. Flora of the British Isles
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms
[11]. Jordan, P. & Wheeler, S. The Complete Book of Mushrooms: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Edible Mushrooms
[12]. Bunker, F.; Brodie, J.A.; Maggs, C.A. & Bunker, A. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland.
[13]. Facciola, S. Cornucopia — A Source Book of Edible Plants
This is a continuation of an entire series of pages that will, I hope, allow my visitors to better navigate this site. As well as displaying recipes by name, country and region of origin I am now planning a whole series of pages where recipes can be located by meal type and main ingredient. This page gives a listing of all the Cornish recipes added to this site.
These recipes, all contain Nipplewort as a major wild food ingredient.
The Nipplewort, Lapsana communis (also known as the Common Nipplewort) is the single member of the Lapsana genus of the Asteraceae (daisy) family of flowering plants. It is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe and northern Asia that typically grows between 1 and 1.2m tall with hairy stems and clear (not milky) sap. The leaves are spirally arranged; larger leaves at the base of the flowering stem are often pinnate, with a large oval terminal leaflet and one to four small side leaflets, while smaller leaves higher on the stem are simple oval; all leaves have a toothed margin. The flowers are yellow, produced in a capitulum 1-2 cm diameter, the capitula being numerous in loose clusters at the top of the stem. The scientific name comes from Lapsane, an edible herb described by Marcus Terentius Varro of ancient Rome, whilst the English name 'Nipplewort' derives from the plant's closed flower buds, which resemble nipples.
Despite having a rather bitter taste the young and leaves and shoots are edible. The leaves can be used raw in salads or they can be cooked like spinach. The young shoots can also be cooked. However, the they are best harvested before the plant comes into flower. The leaves can also be chopped and used as a flavouring for soups and casseroles and are said to have a rather radish-like flavour (but they are bitter).
It is typically fond on waste ground, roadsides and walls. The plant avoids acid soils and can grow either in full sun or semi-shade.
References:
[1]. David Evans Notes from field observations, tastings and cookery experiments.[2]. Huxley, A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992
[3]. Tanaka, T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
[4]. Lim T.K. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants, Vols 1–8.
[5]. Thomas, G. S. Perennial Garden Plants
[6]. Milner, E. Trees of Britain and Ireland
[7]. Rose, F. & O'Reilly, C. The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) – How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland
[8]. Streeter, D. & Garrard, I. The Wild Flowers of the British Isles
[9]. Clapham, A.R.; Tutin, T.G. & Moore, D.M. Flora of the British Isles
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms
[11]. Jordan, P. & Wheeler, S. The Complete Book of Mushrooms: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Edible Mushrooms
[12]. Bunker, F.; Brodie, J.A.; Maggs, C.A. & Bunker, A. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland.
[13]. Facciola, S. Cornucopia — A Source Book of Edible Plants
The alphabetical list of all Nipplewort recipes on this site follows, (limited to 100 recipes per page). There are 2 recipes in total:
Page 1 of 1
| Nipplewort Crème Fraîche Origin: Britain | Rainkohl und Grünkern-Suppe (Nipplewort and Green Spelt Soup) Origin: Germany |
Page 1 of 1