Circaea lutetiana
Enchanter's Nightshade
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Onagraceae
- Genus
- Circaea
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.7 m
- Fertility
- Diptera
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Diptera
Uses
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.
The plant has been used as a treatment on wounds[3]. A compound infusion has been drunk and also used as a wash on injured parts of the body[3].
Environment
- Range
- Most of Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and Iran.
- Habitat
- Woods and shady places on a moist, base-rich soil, throughout Britain to 360 metres[1].
- Shade tolerance
- partial shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in situ if you have sufficient seed. Otherwise sow in pots in light shade in a cold frame, pricking the seedlings out into individual pots once they are large enough to handle. Plant out in the summer or the following spring.
Cultivation
Prefers a moist soil and a position in partial shade, growing well in woodland conditions[2].
References
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9