Himalayan Balsam

So often mistaken for Japanese knotweed by the uninitiated until it flowers, the Himalayan Balsam has very amusing exploding seed heads. Which is a pretty cool method for spreading  anything. The seeds taste like young hazel or cob nuts, slightly grainy in texture due to their size but a fun country walk snack. 

I photographed some yesterday for identification. I need to do a little research but, I think they could be ground into a flour once dried. Once the seeds go black they become hard and more than a little unpleasant to chew on.

I hate that plant! I’ve spent far to much of my past life battling to control it. I don’t think it’s made it onto the island yet, but it’s in Oban so it’s only a matter of time before we have that invasive thug here.

When I was a young'un I used to pick bunches of HB from the river bank and bring them home for my Mum. She'd dutifully put them a vase and the thing I remember was - the water would turn black. Nasty stuff!!

It’s taking over the riverbanks around here

So eat the seeds and stop it spreading.

I remember it well as a child. I used to enjoy going down the bank of the Mersey, touching ripe pods and seeing them explode. We also used portions of their stems as pea shooters.

It's a problem here - only the Japanese knotweed out-competes it.

It's a problem here - only the Japanese knotweed out-competes it.

You can eat that too PP, it tastes a bit like rhubarb.

I'd worry about eating japanese knotweed in case it starts growing inside me lol

That would all depend on how much soil you have on the inside.