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Fumaria officinalis
  • Fumitory

an annual member of the Fumaria genus in the family Fumariaceae.

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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
  • light shade
    Light 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
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    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
Fumaria officinalis has 0 edible uses listed
Fumaria officinalis has 0 material uses listed
Fumaria officinalis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The fresh or dried herb can be added to sour plant milks. A few sprays are added to each litre of liquid and left until the liquid has soured thickly. The sprays are then removed. It gives a tangy taste to the milk, acts as a preservative and prevents the rancid taste that can accompany soured milk[1].

Unknown part

Curdling agent

Material uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[2][3]. A decoction makes a curative lotion for 'milk-crust' on the scalps of babies[2].

Unknown part

Baby care
Dye

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Fumitory has been highly valued since at least Roman times for its tonic and blood cleansing effect upon the body[4]. It is particularly valuable in the treatment of all visceral obstructions, particularly those of the liver, in scorbutic affections and in troublesome eruptive diseases of the skin, especially eczema (for which it can be taken internally and externally)[2][5][6]. The herb is antispasmodic, aperient, cholagogue, slightly diaphoretic, mildly diuretic, laxative and weakly tonic[2][5][3][7][8]. The plant is harvested as flowering begins in the summer and can be used fresh or can be dried for later use[5][6]. Some caution should be exercised in the use of this herb since excess doses cause hypnotic and sedative effects, especially if it is taken for more than about 8 days[6][4].

Unknown part

Antispasmodic
Aperient
Cholagogue
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Laxative
Tonic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. There is normally very little need to sow this seed, the plant normally self-sows freely and should manage quite nicely by itself.

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



Cultivation

Prefers a light well-drained soil in a sunny position[5][9][6]. This plant can be a common weed in some gardens, self-sowing freely, though it is fairly easy to control by hand weeding[K]. The flowers are seldom visited by insects, but they are self-fertile and usually set every seed[2].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Fumaria 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 Fumaria officinalis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Fumaria officinalis
Genus
Fumaria
Family
Fumariaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1]
Medicinal uses
[4][2][5][6][3][7][8]
Material uses & Functions
[2][3]
Botanic
[9]
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
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
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
    annual
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.3 x 0.3 meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Flies, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.6 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (1990-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.4 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.4 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()
    8. ? 8.08.1 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)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

    "image:Fumaria spec.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    Facts about "Fumaria officinalis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyFumariaceae +
    Belongs to genusFumaria +
    Has common nameFumitory +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +
    Has edible useCurdling agent +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Bee +, Flies + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageFumaria spec.JPG +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useBaby care + and Dye +
    Has mature height0.3 +
    Has mature width0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntispasmodic +, Aperient +, Cholagogue +, Diaphoretic +, Diuretic +, Laxative + and Tonic +
    Has primary imageFumaria spec.JPG +
    Has search namefumaria officinalis + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameFumaria officinalis +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +