Practical
Plants

Eryngium creticum

a perennial member of the Eryngium genus in the family Umbelliferae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Beetles
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Beetles

Uses

Edible uses

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

Young basal leaves - cooked[2][3].

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.

Antidote - used in the treatment of snakebite[2].

Product or use
Antidote

Environment

Range
S.E. Europe - Balkans and the Aegean.
Habitat
Fields and rocky places, usually in dry soils[5][2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
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 - best sown as soon as it is ripe in early autumn on the surface of a well-drained compost in a cold frame[4]. The seed can also be sown in spring. It usually germinates in 5 - 90 days at 20°c. 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. Division in early spring or autumn. Take care since the plant resents root disturbance[4]. Root cuttings in autumn or winter[4].

Cultivation

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

Requires a well-drained soil and a sunny position[1]. Prefers a light sandy soil but tolerates most soil types including lime and poor gravels[4]. Plants should be put in their final position whilst small since they resent root disturbance[4]. Plants are usually short-lived perennials and sometimes are only annual or biennial[4].

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

  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↩6

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

    ↩

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