Practical
Plants

Alkanna tinctoria

Alkanet

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Alkanna
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.2 m
Spread
0.25 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Many members of this plant family contain a liver-damaging alkaloid and so internal usage is inadvisable[8].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Used as a vegetable[5]. No further details are given. A red dye obtained from the roots is used as a food colouring[8].

Product or use
Colouring
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The root is antibacterial, antipruritic, astringent and vulnerary[8].It is used externally in the treatment of varicose veins, indolent ulcers, bed sores and itching rashes[8]. The root is harvested in the autumn and can be dried for later use[8].

Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antipruritic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A red dye is obtained from the roots[12][14][4], it is used by pharmacists as well as in perfumes and to stain wood or marble[2][8]. The dye is also used in thermometers[2] and as a litmus to test for acids and alkalines[3]. It can make wood look like rosewood or mahogany[9][3].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Litmus

Environment

Range
S. Europe.
Habitat
Maritime sands, uncultivated ground[10], calcareous soils[14] and pine forests[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure, drought
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[7].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained sandy or loamy soil[1] in sun or partial shade[8]. Dislikes acid soils[1] but thrives in alkaline soils[8]. A very drought tolerant plant when established[7], succeeding in a hot dry position[6], it is a useful plant for dry sandy or alkaline soils[8]. Plants are hardy to about -10°c[6]. This species is occasionally cultivated as a dye plant[13]. One report says that it is cultivated for its seed[11].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩1↩2

  3. Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. 1970-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  8. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  9. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

  10. Polunin. O. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford University Press 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-19-217626-9

    ↩

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  12. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  13. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  14. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page