Elecampane - Revision history

Raffi at 20:46, 18 March 2010

2010-03-18T20:46:36Z

Christi at 07:16, 15 March 2010

2010-03-15T07:16:20Z

Envoy at 05:56, 14 October 2007

2007-10-14T05:56:55Z

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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen
| name = Elecampane
| image = Koeh-210.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| phylum = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| tribus = [[Inuleae]]
| genus = ''[[Inula]]''
| species = '''''I. helenium'''''
| binomial = ''Inula helenium''
}}

'''Elecampane''', also called '''Horse-heal''' (''Inula helenium'') or '''Marchalan''' (in [[Welsh]]), is a [[Perennial plant|perennial]] [[composite plant]] common in many parts of [[Great Britain]], and ranges throughout central and [[Southern Europe]], and in [[Asia]] as far eastwards as the [[Himalayas]].

It is a rather rigid [[herb]], the [[Plant stem|stem]] of which attains a height of from 3 to 5 feet; the [[leaves]] are large and toothed, the lower ones stalked, the rest embracing the stem; the [[flower]]s are yellow, 2 inches broad, and have many rays, each three-notched at the extremity. The root is thick, branching and mucilaginous, and has a warm, bitter taste and a [[camphoraceous]] [[odor]].
[[Image:Inule helenium.jpg|thumb|left|230px]]

For [[medicinal]] purposes it should be procured from plants not more than two or three years old. Besides [[inulin]], C12H20O10, a body [[isomeric]] with [[starch]], the [[root]] contains [[helenin]], C6H8O, a [[stearoptene]], which may be prepared in white acicular [[crystal]]s, insoluble in water, but freely soluble in [[alcohol]]. When freed from the accompanying inula-camphor by repeated crystallization from alcohol, helenin melts at 110° C. By the ancients the root was employed both as a medicine and as a [[condiment]], and in [[England]] it was formerly in great repute as an aromatic tonic and stimulant of the secretory [[organ (anatomy)|organ]]s. As a drug, however, the root is now seldom resorted to except in [[veterinary]] practice, though it is undoubtedly possessed of [[antiseptic]] properties.

In [[France]] and [[Switzerland]] it is used in the manufacture of [[absinthe]].
==Folklore==
The plant's specific name, ''helenium'', derives from [[Helen of Troy]]; elecampane is said to have sprung up from where her tears fell. It was sacred to the ancient [[Celts]], and once had the name "elfwort".<ref>Howard, Michael. ''Traditional Folk Remedies'' (Century, 1987); p135</ref>

==Herbalism==
[[John Gerard]] recommended elecampane for "the shortness of breath"; today herbalists prescribe it as an [[expectorant]] and for [[water retention]]; it also is claimed to have [[antiseptic]] properties. It has minor applications as a [[tonic]] and to bring on [[menstruation]].<ref>Howard, Michael. ''Traditional Folk Remedies'' (Century, 1987); p136</ref>

==References==
<references/>
{{Commons|Inula helenium}}
{{1911}}

[[Category:Asteraceae]]
[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{SPlantbox
 |Temp Metric=°F
 |jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
-|image=Upload.png
+|image=Inule helenium.jpg
 |image_width=240
 }}
 {{Inc|
-Inula helenium, Linn. Elecampane. Fig. 1959. Tall, thick-stemmed: lvs. unequally dentate-serrate; root- lvs. elliptic-oblong, narrowed into a petiole; st.-lvs. half-clasping, cordate-oblong: outer involucral parts leafy, ovate. Wet, sandy and mountainous regions. Eu., N. Asia. Naturalized in Amer. — The roots are thick and carrot-like. For medicinal purposes, 2-year- old roots should be dug in Aug. lf older, they are likely to be stringy and woody.
+Inula helenium, Linn. Elecampane. Tall, thick-stemmed: lvs. unequally dentate-serrate; root- lvs. elliptic-oblong, narrowed into a petiole; st.-lvs. half-clasping, cordate-oblong: outer involucral parts leafy, ovate. Wet, sandy and mountainous regions. Eu., N. Asia. Naturalized in Amer. — The roots are thick and carrot-like. For medicinal purposes, 2-year- old roots should be dug in Aug. lf older, they are likely to be stringy and woody.
 }}
-{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen
+==Cultivation==
-| name = Elecampane
-| image = Koeh-210.jpg
-| image_width = 250px
+===Propagation===
-| regnum = [[Plantae]]
-| phylum = [[Magnoliophyta]]
-| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
+===Pests and diseases===
-It is a rather rigid [[herb]], the [[Plant stem|stem]] of which attains a height of from 3 to 5 feet; the [[leaves]] are large and toothed, the lower ones stalked, the rest embracing the stem; the [[flower]]s are yellow, 2 inches broad, and have many rays, each three-notched at the extremity. The root is thick, branching and mucilaginous, and has a warm, bitter taste and a [[camphoraceous]] [[odor]].
+==Varieties==
-In [[France]] and [[Switzerland]] it is used in the manufacture of [[absinthe]].
+==Gallery==
-==Herbalism==
+<gallery perrow=5>
-[[John Gerard]] recommended elecampane for "the shortness of breath"; today herbalists prescribe it as an [[expectorant]] and for [[water retention]]; it also is claimed to have [[antiseptic]] properties. It has minor applications as a [[tonic]] and to bring on [[menstruation]].<ref>Howard, Michael. ''Traditional Folk Remedies'' (Century, 1987); p136</ref>
+File:Koeh-210.jpg|
 ==References==
 <references/>
-{{Commons|Inula helenium}}
+*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
-{{1911}}
+<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
-[[Category:Asteraceae]]
+{{stub}}
-[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
+__NOTOC__

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:16, 15 March 2010
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		+	{{SPlantbox
		+	\|Temp Metric=°F
		+	\|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
		+	\|image=Upload.png
		+	\|image_width=240
		+	}}
		+	{{Inc\|
		+	Inula helenium, Linn. Elecampane. Fig. 1959. Tall, thick-stemmed: lvs. unequally dentate-serrate; root- lvs. elliptic-oblong, narrowed into a petiole; st.-lvs. half-clasping, cordate-oblong: outer involucral parts leafy, ovate. Wet, sandy and mountainous regions. Eu., N. Asia. Naturalized in Amer. — The roots are thick and carrot-like. For medicinal purposes, 2-year- old roots should be dug in Aug. lf older, they are likely to be stringy and woody.
		+	}}
		+
	{{Taxobox \| color = lightgreen		{{Taxobox \| color = lightgreen
	\| name = Elecampane		\| name = Elecampane