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Lithospermum officinale
  • Gromwell

a perennial member of the Lithospermum genus in the family Boraginaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 6
    Zone 6
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Lithospermum officinale has 0 edible uses listed
Lithospermum officinale has 0 material uses listed
Lithospermum officinale has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The leaves are used as a tea substitute[1][2][3].

Unknown part

Tea

Material uses

A purple dye is obtained from the roots. It is best harvested in the spring[4].

Unknown part

Dye

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The mature seeds are diuretic, lithontripic and oxytocic[5][6]. They are ground into a powder and used in the treatment of bladder stones, arthritis and febrile conditions[5].

An infusion of the leaves is used as a sedative[6]. The root is depurative[6]. A syrup made from a decoction of the root and stems is used in the treatment of eruptive diseases such as smallpox, measles and itch[6].

All parts of the plant contain a substance that inhibits the secretion of the pituitary gonadotrophic hormone[6]. Extracts of the herb possess contraceptive properties[6].

Unknown part

Contraceptive
Depurative
Diuretic
Lithontripic
Oxytoxic
Sedative

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cuttings.

Division.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Lithospermum officinale. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained soil[7].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Lithospermum officinale. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Lithospermum officinale.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Lithospermum officinale
Genus
Lithospermum
Family
Boraginaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3]
Medicinal uses
[5][6]
Material uses & Functions
[4]
Botanic
[8][7]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
6
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.75 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees, Flies
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.56.6 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    8. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

    "image:Lithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Lithospermum_officinale&oldid=78370"
    Facts about "Lithospermum officinale"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyBoraginaceae +
    Belongs to genusLithospermum +
    Has common nameGromwell +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +
    Has edible useTea +
    Has fertility typeBee + and Flies +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone6 +
    Has imageLithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useDye +
    Has mature height0.75 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useContraceptive +, Depurative +, Diuretic +, Lithontripic +, Oxytoxic + and Sedative +
    Has primary imageLithospermum officinale Sturm13.jpg +
    Has search namelithospermum officinale + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameLithospermum officinale +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +