Opopanax chironium
| Opopanax chironium | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 6' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Opopanax chironium (common name: opopanax)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in situ.
If seed is in short supply then it is best to sow it in a pot in the greenhouse in early spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer.
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any good garden soil[1]. It can tolerate considerable neglect, some plants we were growing were left to fend for themselves in very dense weed growth and survived well for 4 years before being moved to another site[K].
We are not sure how hardy this plant is, but the foliage has withstood short periods of temperatures down to -6°c with us[K].
A warm climate is necessary in order to produce good quality gum[2].
Plants seem to be very tolerant of root disturbance, specimens that had been growing for 4 years in one site grew away very well when transplanted as they came into growth in late autumn[K].
Range: S. Europe.
Habitat: Stony ground, olive groves, vineyards etc[3].
Medicinal: The gum (an oleo resin according to one report) that is obtained from the base of the stems is antispasmodic and deobstruent[2]. It is nowadays considered to be a medium of feeble powers though it was at one time widely used in the treatment of menstrual disorders, asthma, chronic visceral afflictions etc[2].
Usage: A gum is obtained through incisions in the roots at the base of the stems[2]. It is used in perfumery[1][4][5] and also in medicines[6]. The gum is inflammable, burning brightly[2].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Mid Fall-Late Summer
Seed Ripens: Late Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Malabaila opopanax.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford University Press, 1980.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.