Practical
Plants

Scopolia carniolica

Scopolia

a perennial member of the Scopolia genus in the family Solanaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.6 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.

This plant is probably fairly poisonous. The rhizomes contain potentially poisonous alkaloids that are similar to Atropa belladonna[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 dried root is hypnotic, mydriatic and narcotic[6][7][8]. It causes a sleep that resembles normal sleep[6]. The medicinal activity of this plant resembles belladonna (Atropa belladonna) but it is more narcotic[7]. It is used internally in the treatment of chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, stomach ache and manic-depressive states[5]. A very toxic plant, it should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[5]. The root is harvested in the autumn and normally processed for extraction of the alkaloids which are used in the pharmaceutical industry[5].

Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Mydriatic
Product or use
Narcotic

Environment

Range
Europe - Austria, Hungary and Russia.
Habitat
Moist rocky beech woods around 1000 metres[2][4]. Damp stony places in hilly areas[6].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
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 - sow spring in a greenhouse[K]. The seed is best sown in the autumn[3]. Germination is quick and easy[K]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer[K]. Division in spring[3]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a light, fertile, well-drained dry soil in a shady position[1][4]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is occasionally cultivated for its medicinal uses[7].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

  3. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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