Characteristics
An annual plant. Male and female flowers are separate but on the same plant.
| Life form |
annual
|
| Growth form |
herb
|
| Growth support |
-
|
| Foliage retention |
-
|
| Sexuality |
monoecy
|
| Pollination |
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
-
|
| Mature height (meter) |
-
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
-
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
-
|
Environment
A tropical plant. It can grow on a range of well drained soils. It needs sun and moisture.
| Light |
|
| Soil humidity |
|
| Soil texture |
|
| Soil acidity |
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
-
|
Usage
The leaves and young plant are eaten cooked. The seeds are ground into flour and used to make bread. CAUTION: This plant can accumulate nitrates if grown with high nitrogen inorganic fertilisers and these are poisonous.
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seed if the soil is warm. Seeds are small and grow easily. Cuttings of growing plants root easily.
| Mode |
cuttings
seedlings
|
| Germination duration (days) |
10 - 15
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
21 - 23
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
19 - 30
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
Home