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Kewa acida
Kewa acida, commonly called the salad plant, is one of the eight species currently recognized in the genus Kewa, the sole genus in the family Kewaceae. It is a bushy grey-leaved annual or short-lived perennial plant, with white flowers, endemic to Saint Helena. It is regarded as Critically Endangered. The succulent leaves are high in Vitamin C and were used by sailors in the past as a scurvy preventative.
Kewa acida is in cultivation at Kew Gardens, originating from seeds collected in 2009. It is grown in a porous, low-nutrient potting compost, and kept at a minimum temperature of 10 °C (50 °F) at night, higher in the daytime. It can be propagated by seeds or by cuttings.
Kewa acida is endemic to the mid-Atlantic island of St Helena. It is found in hot, dry coastal regions, up to 550 m (1,800 ft) in elevation. It tends to be annual and hence smaller in drier areas, but can become perennial and shrubby where there is more moisture.
On St Helena, Kewa acida has been called the "salad plant". Its leaves have a salty acid taste and are high in vitamin C, so were used by sailors to prevent scurvy.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Kewa acida by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
