Practical
Plants

Lycopus europaeus

Gypsywort

a perennial member of the Lycopus genus in the family Labiatae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Genus
Lycopus
Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies

Uses

Edible uses

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

Root - raw or cooked. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[3].

Plant part
Root

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 fresh or dried flowering herb is astringent and sedative[7]. It inhibits iodine conversion in the thyroid gland and is used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism and related disorders[8]. The whole plant is used as an astringent, hypoglycaemic, mild narcotic and mild sedative[7][5]. It also slows and strengthens heart contractions[5]. The plant has been shown to be of value in the treatment of hyperthyroidism[8][5], it is also used in the treatment of coughs, bleeding from the lungs and consumption, excessive menstruation etc[7][5]. The leaves are applied as a poultice to cleanse foul wounds[6]. This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women or patients with hypothyroidism[5]. The plant is harvested as flowering begins and can be use fresh or dried, in an infusion or as a tincture[7][5].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Miscellany
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

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

A black dye is obtained from the plant[7][1]. It is said to give a permanent colour and was also used by gypsies in order to darken the skin[7].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, to the Mediterranean, north and central Asia.
Habitat
By rivers, streams and ditches, also in marshes and fens[8][2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[5]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring or autumn[5]. 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.

Tolerates most soil types so long as they are wet. Grows well in shallow water. Succeeds in sun or shade.

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  3. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

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

  5. 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↩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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

Edit this page