Paracress
Paracress: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Paracress, Acmella oleracea, is an herbaceous member of the daisy family, Asteraceae, also known as jambu or the toothache plant. Its common name suggests cress, but its relatives include daisies and sunflowers. It is distinct from true watercress and shares neither its appearance nor its flavour. Its origin is associated with a cultivated plant from south-eastern Brazil, subsequently spread to various tropical regions.The plant forms a branching clump, often around thirty to forty-five centimetres tall and wide. Stems may stand upright or spread outwards and sometimes have a reddish colour. The opposite leaves are broad, oval to almost triangular, with pointed tips and toothed edges. Their soft green appearance provides a clear background for the small flower buttons.Those buttons are flower heads, each containing numerous tiny flowers. They are yellow, sometimes with a dark red area that gives them an eye-like appearance. Unlike a familiar daisy, they lack an outer…
