Irish moss
dainty daisy unwelcome guest
– seeing double on St Patrick’s Day
What could be more ‘Irish’ than a moss that’s not a moss? The common name, Irish moss, is used as a moniker for a number of plants, including the first of our plants of the week, the connection with which is more than just dubious; in fact it’s downright... fishy!
This is certainly the right time of year for spotting and weeding out Erigeron karvinskianus, often known as Mexican daisies (from their country of origin) fleabane, dancing daisies or seaside daisies.
Chondrus crispus At home along the rockier sections of coast in North America and Europe – particularly in Ireland – Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) is actually a form of algae. Ranging in colour from yellow-green to red or brown, it grows to roughly 20cm in length in a branching, fan shape.
Pretty as these white, purplish and pink daisies with a yellow centre, are, they have been declared the scourge of NZ’s native bush and gardeners are urged to get rid of this plant wherever they see it.
Not content with looking for four-leaf clovers, historically, Irish folk thought this type of Irish moss to be a lucky charm, which would usher prosperity into the household. In more recent years, however, it is widely used in a variety of edibles and considered to be a super food. As with other red seaweeds, Irish moss is often harvested for its carrageenan content, which is used as a thickening product in processed foods, gelatinous desserts and ice cream.
Chondrus crispus (above) and Sagina subulata (below ) – Irish Mosses by other names.
In Britain, Erigeron is often used as an edging plant or ground cover and is grown in containers. But, in New Zealand it seeds prolifically and is spread by wind across long distances, establishing itself in a wide range of habitats opening them up to invasion by vines and other weeds
In addition, primarily because of its vitamin K content, it is also added to cosmetics to alleviate skin problems, including sunburn and eczema, as well as to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and varicose veins.
Sagina subulata Also known by the name Irish moss www.eastlife.co.nz
Many folk from the ‘old country’ i.e. England may question this because in the UK, Erigeron Karvinskianus Profusion received the British Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit. A mark of quality, it is awarded to plants which are judged on their performance under UK growing conditions. But as many gardeners know, some plants valued there, such as gorse, are not seen in the same light here often because the climate and growing conditions are quite different.
Containing high amounts of sulphur, calcium, iodine and potassium, and a range of vitamins, Irish moss has been used to treat numerous ailments from intestinal and bladder disorders, to bronchitis, influenza and even tuberculosis.
And, those enjoying a tipple or two on St Pat’s night might even find it present in their brew! Similar to starch or cellulose, carrageenan is a perfect clarifying agent in homebrewed beer, because, when added to the wort, it attracts proteins to be removed from the mix once cooled.
Forget the saying, ‘beware Greeks bearing gifts’. Rather, think along the lines of beware a pretty little Mexican who can easily make one forget it is a troublesome foe of gardeners in New Zealand.
(or Scotch moss), Sagina subulata is a slow-growing perennial that grows to form a dense ground covering. Preferring moist soil, this European native features slim leaves and numerous small flowers, just 4-5mm in length, with white petals. Ideal in rock gardens or between pavers, this particular Irish moss forms a cushion of greenery, and brings the garden alive with a
virtual cascade of blooms in late spring to early summer. Thriving in full sun or part shade with free-draining soil, Sagina subulata is relatively easy to grow, with sections cut and pressed down where required.
This attractive invader, which forms a dense, sprawling mat with fibrous roots, finds its way on to farms, cliff faces, shrubland and tussockland; into bush and along consolidated sand dunes, streams, riverbeds, and roadsides. It will also creep into cracks and rocky places ultimately replacing vulnerable shrubs and herbs. We can well do without it.
Let’s face it, whether or not we’re born (or formed) in the Emerald Isle, come March 17, all can pretend for the day to be a little bit Irish, if not in name, then at least in nature. eastlife | march 2016 |
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