Alkanna tinctoria
| Alkanna tinctoria | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Soil pH: | 6.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Alkanna tinctoria (common name: alkanet)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring. Fairly easy, they can be planted straight out into their permanent positions if required.
Basal cuttings of new growth in late spring. Harvest the young shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long and pot them up into individual pots in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse. They should root well within a few weeks and can be planted out in the summer[K].
Root cuttings in late winter[1].
Cultivation: Prefers a well-drained sandy or loamy soil[2] in sun or partial shade[3]. Dislikes acid soils[2] but thrives in alkaline soils[3]. A very drought tolerant plant when established[1], succeeding in a hot dry position[4], it is a useful plant for dry sandy or alkaline soils[3].
Plants are hardy to about -10°c[4].
This species is occasionally cultivated as a dye plant[5]. One report says that it is cultivated for its seed[6].
Range: S. Europe.
Habitat: Maritime sands, uncultivated ground[7], calcareous soils[8] and pine forests[3].
Edibility: Used as a vegetable[9]. No further details are given.
A red dye obtained from the roots is used as a food colouring[3].
Medicinal: The root is antibacterial, antipruritic, astringent and vulnerary[3].It is used externally in the treatment of varicose veins, indolent ulcers, bed sores and itching rashes[3]. The root is harvested in the autumn and can be dried for later use[3].
Usage: A red dye is obtained from the roots[10][8][11], it is used by pharmacists as well as in perfumes and to stain wood or marble[12][3]. The dye is also used in thermometers[12] and as a litmus to test for acids and alkalines[13]. It can make wood look like rosewood or mahogany[14][13].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Many members of this plant family contain a liver-damaging alkaloid and so internal usage is inadvisable[3].
Also Known As: Anchusa tinctoria.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford University Press, 1980.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Schery. Robert. Plants for Man. Prentice Hall, 1972.
- ↑ Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Niebuhr, Alta. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America, 1970.
- ↑ Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.