Italienische Ochsenzunge

"Wir schätzen den gelegentlichen Verzehr kleiner Mengen im Jahr als unbedenklich ein, dennoch können und wollen wir dem Leser die Entscheidung zur Verwendung für den persönlichen Gebrauch nicht abnehmen." (Fleischhauer, Spiegelberger, Guthmann: Enzyklopädie Essbare Wildpflanzen, AT Verlag 2013, S. 157)

Succeeds in most soils, preferring a sunny position. Prefers a fertile well-drained soil. Tolerates heavy clay. Requires a deep well-drained soil. Established plants tolerate drought. Plants are hardy to about -15°c. The flowers are a good source of food for bees. Many named forms have been selected for their ornamental value. The plants tend to be short-lived perennials but they can be propagated by means of root cuttings.

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Shoots Edible Uses: Flowers - raw. An excellent and decorative addition to the salad bowl, or used as a garnish. The tender young leaves and young flowering shoots can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Dye A red dye is obtained from the root. This was at one time used as a basis for some cosmetics.

Heimisch: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., England [I] (England [I], Wales [I], Isle of Man [I], Scotland [I]); Germany [I]; Switzerland [I]; Austria [I]; Slovakia; Hungary; Portugal; Spain; Gibraltar; Baleares; France; Channel Isl. [I]; Corsica; Sardinia; Italy; Sicily; Pantelleria; Isole Pelagie (Lampedusa); Malta; San Marino; Slovenia; Croatia; Bosnia & Hercegovina; Montenegro; Serbia; Kosovo; North Macedonia; Albania; Romania; Bulgaria; European Turkey; Greece (widespread in lowlands, incl. most islands); Crete; E-European Russia; Ukraine; Crimea; Morocco; Algeria; Tunisia; Libya; Madeira (Madeira Isl.); Canary Isl. (Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, Hierro, La Palma); Russian Far East [I] (Magadan [I]); Kazakhstan; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan; Kyrgyzstan; Tajikistan; Northern Caucasus; Georgia [Caucasus]; Armenia; Azerbaijan; East Aegaean Isl. (widespread, incl. Rhodos); Turkey (E-Anatolia, Inner Anatolia, N-Anatolia, NE-Anatolia, NW-Anatolia: Bithynia, S-Anatolia, SE-Anatolia, SE-Anatolia: Mesopotamian Anatolia, SSW-Anatolia, SW-Anatolia, WN-Anatolia); Iraq (NE-Iraq, NW-Iraq, SE-Iraq: Mesopotamia, W-Iraq: Desert); Iran (EC-Iran, NE-Iran: Mts., N-Iran, Iranian Aserbaijan, W-Iran); Afghanistan (Badakshan, Badghys, Baghlan, Balkh, Faryab, Herat, Kabul, Parwan, Takhar); Cyprus (C-Mountains, E-Cyprus, N-Cyprus, S-Cyprus, W-Cyprus); Lebanon (C-Lebanon, coastal W-Lebanon); Syria (coastal W-Syria, NW-Syria); Israel (coastal W-Israel, Rift Valley, N-Israel, N-Negev Desert, Judean Desert); Sinai peninsula (S-Sinai); Jordania (W-Jordania); Pakistan (Baluchistan, Quetta, Murree, Mirpur); India (Jammu & Kashmir); Bangladesh [I]; Myanmar [I]; Canada [I] (British Columbia [I]); USA [I] (California [I], Colorado [I], Connecticut [I], Iowa [I], Idaho [I], Massachusetts [I], Maryland [I], Michigan [I], Montana [I], New Hampshire [I], New York [I], Ohio [I], Oregon [I], Pennsylvania [I], Texas [I], Utah [I], Washington State [I]), France, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., North America, North Caucasus, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Romania, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, West Himalaya Eingeführt: AT, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, British Columbia, Brussels-Capital Region, CA, CZ, California, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Channel Is., Colorado, Connecticut, Czech Republic, Czechia-Slovakia, DK, Denmark, Finland, Flemish Region, France, Free State, Germany, Great Britain, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Madeira, Magadan, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Northern Provinces, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Switzerland, Texas, Utah, Walloon Region, Washington