Miner's Lettace
The forty-niner's added the "Miner's Lettace" common name to this tasty and attractive little (usually) annual in the area about Sutter's Creek. It kept them from scurvy the stories say.
It can be used in salads and reseeds well (too well?), but is easy to pull up if it begins to take over. It can be a few inches tall before it blooms, or a foot or more tall.
As the weather gets warmer, an attractive pinkish color begins at the lowest part of the stems. While they are still young the color is a very fresh green.
It will last longer in moist conditions, with some sun. It contains Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and is a good antioxident. It can be eaten raw, in stir-fry, or prepared anyway you would spinach. All that, and it's pretty too. Plant it or pick it out in the wild. If you plan to harvest in the wild, pick of just the tops, to avoid pulling the whole plant out of the ground.
Don't know where to buy seeds? Larner Seeds is the answer.
Flash: Miner's Lettace even makes the grade in Sunset Magazine's March 2010 issues just out. (Not online yet.) Pages 63-5. Likely place to find it when March begins, article is called"Vegtable King".
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