Practical
Plants

Cistus ladanifer

Labdanum

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Cistus genus in the family Cistaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Cistaceae
Genus
Cistus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
1.5 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

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

Seed - ground into a powder and used with cereal flours in making cakes and breads[6][8]. An oleo-resin obtained from the leaves and stems is eaten raw or used as a commercial food flavouring in baked goods, ice cream, chewing gum etc[12][2][6][8][14]. The plant is said to yield a sweet manna[8].This report is probably referring to the oleo-resin mentioned above[K].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Gum
Plant part
Sap
Product or use
Manna
Plant part
Seed

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.

Labdanum is an aromatic, expectorant, stimulant herb that controls bleeding and has antibiotic effects[16][14]. It is used internally in the treatment of catarrh and diarrhoea[14] and as an emmenagogue[16]. The leaves are harvested in late spring and early summer and can be dried for later use, or the resin extracted from them[14].

Product or use
Antibiotic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Stimulant

Material uses

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

The glandular hairs on the leaves yield the oleo-resin 'ladanum', used medicinally and in soaps, perfumery, fumigation etc[16][4][17][19][20][23][1]. This resin is an acceptable substitute for ambergris (which is obtained from the sperm whale) and so is important in perfume manufacture[14]. The resin is collected by dragging a type of rake through the plant, the resin adhering to the teeth of the rake, or by boiling the twigs and skimming off the resin[20][23]. Most resin is produced at the hottest time of the year[17].

Product or use
Resin

Environment

Range
Europe - W. Mediterranean.
Habitat
Pine woods, copses and on dry usually granitic hills[23][9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, 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 - gather when ripe and store dry[21]. Surface sow in late winter in a greenhouse[5]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 4 weeks at 20°c[5]. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into individual pots. Grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out the in the following spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[5]. The seed stores for at least 3 years[K]. Cuttings of softish to half-ripe wood, 8cm long with a heel or at a node, June/August in a frame. Roots are formed within 3 weeks[21]. High percentage[21]. Cuttings of almost mature wood, 8 - 12cm with a heel or at a node, September/October in a frame. High percentage[21]. Lift and pot up in the spring, plant out when a good root system has formed[21]. Layering in spring.

Cultivation

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

Requires a sunny position in a well-drained light sandy soil[4][7], growing well in poor soils[14]. Withstands drought once it is established[4][11]. Plants are fairly wind resistant[166, K], tolerating maritime exposure[10]. Resents root disturbance[4]. Plants are hardy to about -10c[9], but they require protection in severe winters[4]. Plants are somewhat hardier when grown in poor soils[7]. Individual flowers only last one day but there is a long succession of them[4][13]. Labdanum dislikes pruning, especially as it gets older and so any formative work should be restricted to removing dead, straggly or damaged growths[14]. The plant also resents root disturbance[13]. Plants should be pot grown and then planted out in their final positions whilst still small. Sometimes cultivated for its gum, which is known as 'Labdanum', this is exuded in such quantity in hot weather that the plant becomes very sticky[16][19]. The leaves have glandular hairs which produce an aromatic gum. The sweet balsamic smell is most apparent in the summer in the early morning[15]. A very ornamental plant, it is very free-flowering and fast growing[18]. There are a number of named forms developed for their ornamental value[7]. An excellent nurse plant for sheltering young seedlings[18]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[22][13]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[3]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[13].

References

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

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

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  4. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  5. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  7. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  10. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  11. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

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  12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. 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

  15. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2

  18. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  20. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩1↩2

  21. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  22. RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987-00-00

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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