Agriokardamouda - shepherd's purse
Wild green.
Name - Origin
Αγριοκαρδαμούδα, καψέλλα.
"It is a biennial, herbaceous plant. Its root goes deep into the ground. In the first year, the rosette of lower leaves, which are elongated, serrated, with a stalk, emerges at its top. The subsequent leaves are sessile, have two broad small leaves at their base and form lobes. In the second year, the flowering shoots emerge, which branch and may reach 50 cm in height. The flowers come in bunches, are very small and white or slightly rose-coloured. The fruit of the plant is heart-shaped, pressed, green, with numerous oval, brownish-yellow seeds. The plant can produce 2 to 4 times per year, flowering and fruiting from spring to autumn. Its growth requires a lot of sunshine" (Papoulias 2006, 30-31).
The name of the genus (Capsella) is attributed to its characteristic fruits, which resemble the pouches of Renaissance priests (Papoulias 2006, 30-31).
Scientific name: Capsella bursa-pastoris/Brassicaceae (Papoulias 2006, 30-31)
It is used in salads, as an extract, tea (Savvides 1999,12-13).
Functional and symbolic role
"It contains vitamins A, B, C, K, acetylcholine, choline, adonitol, arabinose, arginine, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, citric acid, also diosmine, which clots the blood" (Papoulias 2006, 30-31).
Additional information and bibliography
During World War I, soldiers would apply it to their wounds to heal them (Papoulias 2006, 30-31).
Papoulias Th. (2006), Τα Άγρια Φαγώσιμα Χόρτα του Βουνού και του Κάμπου, Psychalos, Athens.
Savvides L. (1999), Αγριόχορτα που τρώγονται: Από τη χλωρίδα της Κύπρου, Print today, Nicosia.
Kyriaki Panteli, Argyro Xenofontos
Foods
Vegetables and greens in the Byzantine era
Vegetables and wild greens have always been an important part of the Cypriot diet.