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Anchusa officinalis
  • Alkanet

a biennial or perennial member of the Anchusa genus in the family Boraginaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Anchusa officinalis has 0 edible uses listed
Anchusa officinalis has 0 material uses listed
Anchusa officinalis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves and young shoots - cooked[1][2][3]. Used like spinach[4][5].

Flowers - cooked or used as a garnish[5].

The red dye obtained from the roots can be used to colour oils and fats[6].

Unknown part

Colouring

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

A red dye is obtained from the roots[7].

Unknown part

Dye

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

All parts of the plant are demulcent and expectorant[1]. They are used externally to treat cuts, bruises and phlebitis and internally to treat coughs and bronchial catarrh[1]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[1]. It is used in the treatment of stomach and duodenal ulcers[1].

Unknown part

Demulcent
Expectorant
Homeopathy

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in pots of sandy soil[8]. An overnight drop in temperature helps germination[9]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 4 weeks at 21°c[9]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. The seed can also be sown in an outdoor seed bed during July, transplanting the plants to their final positions during early autumn[10]. These plants will grow larger and flower earlier than those sown in spring.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Anchusa officinalis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils, preferring a sunny position[11]. Prefers a fertile well-drained soil[12].

The flowers are a rich source of nectar and are very attractive to bees[11].

The dry leaves emit a rich musky fragrance, rather like wild strawberry leaves drying.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Anchusa officinalis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Anchusa officinalis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Anchusa officinalis
Genus
Anchusa
Family
Boraginaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[1]
Material uses & Functions
[7]
Botanic
[8]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    biennial, perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.6 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.6 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
    3. ? 3.03.1 Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (1975-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. (1987-00-00)
    10. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    12. ? Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge (1926-00-00)

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    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Anchusa_officinalis&oldid=75057"
    Facts about "Anchusa officinalis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyBoraginaceae +
    Belongs to genusAnchusa +
    Has common nameAlkanet +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +, Flowers + and Leaves +
    Has edible useColouring + and Unknown use +
    Has fertility typeBee +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageOksetunge.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeBiennial + and Perennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useDye +
    Has mature height0.6 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useDemulcent +, Expectorant + and Homeopathy +
    Has primary imageOksetunge.jpg +
    Has search nameanchusa officinalis + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameAnchusa officinalis +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +