Practical
Plants

Lithospermum officinale

Gromwell

a perennial member of the Lithospermum genus in the family Boraginaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.75 m
Fertility
Bees, Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies

Uses

Edible uses

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

The leaves are used as a tea substitute[6][7][3].

Product or use
Tea

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 mature seeds are diuretic, lithontripic and oxytocic[8][5]. They are ground into a powder and used in the treatment of bladder stones, arthritis and febrile conditions[8]. An infusion of the leaves is used as a sedative[5]. The root is depurative[5]. A syrup made from a decoction of the root and stems is used in the treatment of eruptive diseases such as smallpox, measles and itch[5]. All parts of the plant contain a substance that inhibits the secretion of the pituitary gonadotrophic hormone[5]. Extracts of the herb possess contraceptive properties[5].

Product or use
Contraceptive
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Lithontripic
Product or use
Oxytoxic
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

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

A purple dye is obtained from the roots. It is best harvested in the spring[2].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, except the extreme southwest and north, east to Iran and the Caucasus.
Habitat
Hedges, bushy places and woodland borders, usually on basic soil[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
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 cold frame. 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. Cuttings. Division.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained soil[4].

References

  1. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  2. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  5. 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↩4↩5↩6

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  8. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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