Scopolia carniolica
| Scopolia carniolica | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Scopolia carniolica (common name: scopolia)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[K]. The seed is best sown in the autumn[1]. Germination is quick and easy[K]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer[K].
Division in spring[1]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Cultivation: Prefers a light, fertile, well-drained dry soil in a shady position[2][3].
A very ornamental plant[2], it is occasionally cultivated for its medicinal uses[4].
Range: Europe - Austria, Hungary and Russia.
Habitat: Moist rocky beech woods around 1000 metres[5][3]. Damp stony places in hilly areas[6].
Medicinal: The dried root is hypnotic, mydriatic and narcotic[6][4][7]. It causes a sleep that resembles normal sleep[6]. The medicinal activity of this plant resembles belladonna (Atropa belladonna) but it is more narcotic[4]. It is used internally in the treatment of chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, stomach ache and manic-depressive states[8]. A very toxic plant, it should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[8]. The root is harvested in the autumn and normally processed for extraction of the alkaloids which are used in the pharmaceutical industry[8].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: This plant is probably fairly poisonous. The rhizomes contain potentially poisonous alkaloids that are similar to Atropa belladonna[3].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.