Practical
Plants

Datisca cannabina

Acalbir

a perennial member of the Datisca genus in the family Datiscaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Datisca
Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.8 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

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.

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

The leaves and flowering stems are bitter, diuretic, febrifuge and purgative[2][6]. The root is used as a sedative in the treatment of rheumatism[6]. It is also applied to carious teeth[6].

Product or use
Bitter
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Odontalgic
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

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

A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves, root and stems[7][9][2].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
S. Europe (Crete), to W. Asia.
Habitat
Banks of streams in rich alluvial soils[8][4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse, only just covering the seed. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 weeks at 18°c[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in the spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

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

Requires a good deep soil and a sunny position[1][4]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[5]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[4]. Give the roots protection from winter frosts by mulching them[4]. At one time this plant was commonly cultivated as a dye plant[7][9], but with the advent of chemical dyes it has fallen into disuse. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

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

    ↩

  2. Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  8. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page