Gallant Soldier

[petermcgain]

A few years ago we inadvertently imported gallant soldier (galansoga parviflora) seed on to our land and each year the plants come up in their hundreds and require hours of weeding. One reference book reckons one plant can produce up to 30,000 seeds. I have recently been told the leaves are edible as salad which might make them more bearable! Does anyone know if this is true? Sorry I haven't included a photo.

[Tiggrx]

Apparently it is used as a spice under the name Guascas and is used in a soup called Ajiaco - a South American version of Chicken Soup - you can find the recipe quite easily online.

I rarely see Gallant Soldier nowadays it seems to have become less common while it's close relative Shaggy Soldier (Galinsoga quadriradiata) seems to have increased. I'm not sure if this is true over the country as a whole.

[petermcgain]

Thanks Tiggrx. I wonder if what I think is Gallant Soldier is actually Shaggy Soldier - we certainly have loads of whichever one it is. I'll try a few leaves in a salad and if I survive I'll let you know what it tastes like.

[petermcgain]

Originally Posted by petermcgain

Thanks Tiggrx. I wonder if what I think is Gallant Soldier is actually Shaggy Soldier - we certainly have loads of whichever one it is. I'll try a few leaves in a salad and if I survive I'll let you know what it tastes like.

It's definitely gallant soldier, it tastes OK though rather bland and I'm still in the land of the living. Apparently the sowing of gallant soldier as a food source is encouraged in South Africa. Gallant soldier is another escaped plant brought to Kew from Central America (I think)in the 19th century and is sometimes known as Kew Weed.

[Iustus_Martius]

Hi,

This is a long shot, and will sound weird to you, but I am looking for close-up pictures of "Gallant Soldiers." I live in Canada (Vancouver), and would love to get my hands on some local "Galinsoga Parvifloras." For a fact I know you can find the said plants throughout the Pacific Northwest, but most pictures I have found lack small detail. The recipe that I want to prepare requires fresh Galinsogas.

Would you be kind enough to consider my humble request? In exchange I will send you a great soup recipe (can be prepared with ingredients availbale in any part of the world) that uses "Galinsogas" as the main seasoning ingredient...

Warms regards,

Iustus

[petermcgain]

Here I am pulling up gallant soldier by the hundreds and meanwhile it's wanted in Canada. We need to get together! I'll take some photos and try to put them on the webpage. I haven't placed any photos yet and my camera isn't very sophisticated and as there are many very good photographers out there you might get some better ones than mine.....however I'll give it a shot. Bear in mind if you grow it and the conditions are favourable it spreads like wildfire. Looking forward to getting the soup recipe!

[petermcgain]

Originally Posted by Iustus_Martius

Hi,

This is a long shot, and will sound weird to you, but I am looking for close-up pictures of "Gallant Soldiers." I live in Canada (Vancouver), and would love to get my hands on some local "Galinsoga Parvifloras." For a fact I know you can find the said plants throughout the Pacific Northwest, but most pictures I have found lack small detail. The recipe that I want to prepare requires fresh Galinsogas.

Would you be kind enough to consider my humble request? In exchange I will send you a great soup recipe (can be prepared with ingredients availbale in any part of the world) that uses "Galinsogas" as the main seasoning ingredient...

Warms regards,

Iustus

There's a very clear photograph at the following website: http://www.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/~db26...noch/Galinsoga

[JennyS]

Hi peter - the link to the photo doesn't seem to be working? ......or maybe its my browser.....

[buzfuz8149]

Link is not working on my browser either.

[petermcgain]

Originally Posted by JennyS

Hi peter - the link to the photo doesn't seem to be working? ......or maybe its my browser.....

Sorry, it's not working on mine either! However if you tap galinsoga parviflora into Google Image the first image is a very good one from Rechenzentrum Uni Karlsruhe - Willkommen am Rechenzentrum der Universität Karlsruhe (TH) which I assume is Karlsruhe University in Germany. It will be a better image than any I can produce. The more I nibble gallant soldier as I weed them, the more I'm enjoying the tangy flavour.