Uses
Toxic parts
Edible uses
Notes
The flowers have a unique flavour and are eaten or used as a garnish[10].
A bitter, somewhat lemon-flavoured tea is made from the leaves and flowering stems[10].Flowers
Leaves
Material uses
The plant is used as a strewing herb in cellars, churches etc in order to repel insects[17][19][1][20][21][22]. Both the growing and the dried plant are said to repel flies, ants and fleas, especially if they are mixed with elder leaves (Sambucus spp.)[17][11][19][23][16][21]. The leaves and the flowering shoots contain 0.15% of an essential oil that contains camphor, borneol and thujone[6][24]. Both the leaves and the oil and they have been used to kill fleas and lice[24]. Thujone is an effective insecticide, but it is highly toxic to mammals when taken in excess[22].
The plant is a good addition to the compost heap, being valued for its mineral content[16].Medicinal uses(Warning!)
The leaves and flowering tops are anthelmintic, antispasmodic, bitter, carminative, emmenagogue, stimulant and tonic[17][6][27][2][28][29]. An infusion of the leaves or whole plant is used to treat menstrual irregularities and as an anthelmintic, especially for children[17][24]. It is also valuable in treating hysteria, kidney weaknesses, stomach problems, fevers and also as an emmenagogue[17]. In larger doses the plant can procure an abortion, though these doses can be poisonous[24]. Externally, tansy is used as a poultice on swellings and some eruptive skin diseases[17]. It is also used externally to kill lice, fleas and scabies, though even external use of the plant carries the risk of toxicity[25]. The plant is harvested as it is coming into flower and is dried for later use[17].
The seeds are used as an anthelmintic[4].Unknown part
Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Nothing listed.
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Tanacetum vulgare. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.
Cultivation
Tansy is occasionally grown in the herb garden, though a site for growing this plant should be selected with care since it usually spreads very aggressively at the roots[17][19]. There are some named varieties[22]. 'Fernleaf' is a more decorative compact form to about 75cm, it does not spread so quickly. A good plant to grow in the orchard, when grown under fruit trees, raspberries, roses etc it repels insects from them[21].
The flowering plant attracts hoverflies and butterflies.Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Tanacetum vulgare. 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 Tanacetum vulgare.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
References
- ? 1.01.11.2 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)
- ? 2.02.12.22.3 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
- ? Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO ISBN 0112425291 (1984-00-00)
- ? 4.04.14.2 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
- ? 5.05.1 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (1974-00-00)
- ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.5 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
- ? 7.07.1 Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (1975-00-00)
- ? 8.08.1 Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn (1980-00-00)
- ? 9.09.1 De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden. ()
- ? 10.010.110.210.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
- ? 11.011.111.211.3 Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2 ()
- ? 12.012.1 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
- ? 13.013.1 Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. (1878-00-00)
- ? 14.014.1 Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health (1973-00-00)
- ? 15.015.115.215.3 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
- ? 16.016.116.216.316.416.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
- ? 17.0017.0117.0217.0317.0417.0517.0617.0717.0817.0917.1017.1117.12 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
- ? 18.018.1 Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden. ()
- ? 19.019.119.219.3 Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-262-7 (1979-00-00)
- ? 20.020.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
- ? 21.021.121.221.3 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 (1993-00-00)
- ? 22.022.122.222.322.422.5 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
- ? 23.023.1 Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (1979-00-00)
- ? 24.024.124.224.324.424.5 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
- ? 25.025.125.225.3 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
- ? 26.026.1 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
- ? 27.027.1 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
- ? 28.028.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
- ? 29.029.1 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()
- ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
- ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
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