Theligonum cynocrambe aka Dog's Cabbage

Theligonum cynocrambe is a small annual called dog's cabbage. Kew places it in the Rubiaceae family. Its native range includes the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean region. It extends east as far as northwestern Iran. Kew links the species with a subtropical climate. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. The name Cynocrambe prostrata appears as a synonym in PFAF.

The plant reaches about 0.33 feet (0.1 metres) in height. Its spread reaches about 1 foot (0.3 metres). These dimensions give it a low, broad form. As an annual, it completes its life cycle within one year. It bears separate male and female flowers on one plant. The botanical term for this arrangement is monoecious. The supplied sources give no flowering season or fruit details. They also provide no account of leaf shape or stem features.

In the wild, it grows on rocks and walls. PFAF describes these sites as damp or shaded. Its soil guidance covers sand, loam, and clay. The soil should drain well, despite the plant's damp native sites. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline ground. It can grow in full sun or partial shade. PFAF lists both dry and moist soils as suitable. These broad tolerances do not establish a precise watering schedule.

PFAF notes occasional cultivation for food in the Mediterranean. Its garden listings include beds and walls facing any direction. However, it gives no detailed account of cultivation methods. It suggests sowing seed directly outdoors in spring. Its frost tolerance remains uncertain in that source. PFAF also suggests sowing under glass, then planting after frost risk passes. The evidence does not establish a hardiness zone. It gives no specific pest or disease problems.

The edible parts are leaves and young shoots. Cooks use the young shoots cooked, as an alternative to spinach. Their taste has a mild sour note. PFAF gives the plant a low food-use rating. It also records a laxative use and a low medicinal rating. The shoots can have a slight purgative effect. That effect deserves attention despite the source reporting no known hazards. This does not establish safety for pets. PFAF records no other uses and does not flag weed potential.