Practical
Plants

Leontice leontopetalum

Rakaf

a perennial member of the Leontice genus in the family Berberidaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

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 tuber is used as a cure for epilepsy and leprosy. It is also said to be an antidote to opium[4][5].

Product or use
Antidote
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Miscellany

Material uses

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

A soap is obtained from the plant, it is used in removing stains from cloth[5].

Product or use
Soap

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean to N. Africa.
Habitat
Sunny rocky places on cultivated ground, 400 - 2200 metres[5][6]. Plants are sometimes found on limestone, they also grow in steppes and semi-desert[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow 3 - 4 seeds in each pot of deep soil in a greenhouse, covering the seed with 2cm of soil. It germinates in the autumn and pulls itself down 15 - 30cm deep into the soil before the first leaves appear in the spring[2][3]. If necessary, thin the plants to the best one in each pot and grow them on for at least three years in their pots before trying them outdoors. Give regular weak liquid feeds to ensure that the plants do not become nutrient deficient.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in an ordinary well-drained soil[1]. Plants are best grown in a bulb frame and kept completely dry in the summer[3]. They can succeed outdoors in warm dry areas[3]. The tuber should not be covered when planting[1]. This is a strange report when considered against the report that seeds pull themselves down 15 - 30cm into the soil when they germinate - see below.

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society 1982-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1

    ↩

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