Practical
Plants

Peucedanum officinale

Hog's Fennel

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.2 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

Skin contact with the sap of this plant is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis in some people[9][4]. It is also said to contain the alleged 'psychotroph' myristicine[4].

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 plant is anodyne, antispasmodic, aperient, diaphoretic, diuretic and pectoral[5][10][6]. An infusion is used in the treatment of coughs, bronchial catarrh etc[10]. The root is mainly used, it is harvested in the spring or autumn and dried for later use[10]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the roots[10]. It is used in the treatment of bronchial catarrh, coughs, intermittent fevers and to stimulate menstrual flow[10].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Aperient
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Pectoral

Material uses

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

Yields a gum, similar to 'Gum Ammoniac' (which is obtained from Ferula communis)[6][8]. The root is wounded in the spring and then yields a considerable quantity of a yellowish-green juice which dries into a gummy resin and retains the strong sulphur-like smell of the plant[5]. The gum of Ferula communis is used as an incense[5] and also has medicinal value[1].

Product or use
Gum

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Germany south and east to Portugal, central Russia and the Balkans.
Habitat
Banks near the sea[2] and in grassland[7]. Salt marshes[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible otherwise in early spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.

Cultivation

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

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any moisture-retentive soil in a sunny position[3]. Suitable for group plantings in the wild garden[3].

References

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

    ↩

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

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

    ↩1↩2

  4. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

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  9. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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