Tanacetum balsamita - Revision history

Murali.lalitha at 17:39, 18 April 2010

2010-04-18T17:39:17Z

Raffi at 15:16, 17 April 2010

2010-04-17T15:16:07Z

Murali.lalitha at 11:42, 15 April 2010

2010-04-15T11:42:19Z

Murali.lalitha at 11:41, 15 April 2010

2010-04-15T11:41:47Z

Envoy at 04:46, 3 October 2007

2007-10-03T04:46:05Z

New page

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Costmary
| image = Balsamita major.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Tanacetum]]''
| species = '''''T. balsamita'''''
| binomial = ''Tanacetum balsamita''

| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}

'''Tanacetum balsamita''' is a perennial temperate herb known as '''Costmary''', '''Alecost''' or '''Balsam herb'''.

It has been grown for many centuries for its pleasant, slightly medicinal or [[balsam|balsamic]] smell. It was used in medieval times as a place marker in [[Bible|bibles]]. It is referred to by Culpeper and others as the 'Balsam Herb'. [http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/costm107.html]
Leaves of the plant have been found to contain a range of [[essential oil|essential oils]]. A Spanish study found the oil includes [[carvone]] as the main component (51.5%, 41.0% and 56.9% in three samples), together with minor amounts of beta-thujone, t-dihydrocarvone, c-dihydrocarvone, dihydrocarveol isomer c-carveol and t-carveol. It is noteworthy that levels of beta-thujone, a [[toxin|toxic]] [[ketone]], were 9.8%, 12.5% and 12.1% in the respective samples. [http://www.actahort.org/books/306/306_19.htm]

The plant is known from ancient [[Herbal|herbals]] and was widely grown in Elizabethan [[knot garden|knot gardens]].

[[Nicholas Culpeper]] says of Costmary [http://www.bibliomania.com/2/1/66/113/21003/1/frameset.html]
*''It is under the dominion of Jupiter. The ordinary costmary, as well as maudlin, provokes urine abundantly, and softens the hardness of the mother; it gently purgeth choler and phlegm, extenuating that which is gross, and cutting that which is tough and glutinous, cleanseth that which is foul, and prevents putrefaction ; it openeth obstructions and relieves their bad effects, and it is beneficial in all sorts of dry agues. It is astringent to the stomach, and strengtheneth the livers other viscera : and taken in whey, worketh more effectively. Taken fasting in the morning, it relieves chronic pains in the head, and to stay, dry up, and consume all their rheums or distillations from the head into the stomach, a much to digest raw humours gathered therein, It is profitable for those that are fallen into a continual evil disposition of the body, called cachexy, especially in beginning of the disease. It is good for weak and cold livers. The seed is given to children for worms, and so is the infusion of flowers in white wine, about two ounces at a time. It maketh an excellent salve to heal old ulcers, being boiled with oil of olive, and adder's tongue with it; and after is strained, put in a little wax, rosin, and turpentine to make it as thick as required.''

==See also==

*[[Pyrethrum]]

==References==

# Culpepers British Herbal - Pub. William Nicholson and Son - C. 1905 (re-print of the 1653 original)

[[Category:Asteraceae]]

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 |common_name=Alecost, Costmary
 |habit=herbaceous
-|Min ht box=36
+|Max ht box=36
-|Min ht metric=in
+|Max ht metric=in
-|Min wd box=18
+|Max wd box=18
-|Min wd metric=in
+|Max wd metric=in
 |lifespan=perennial
 |exposure=sun

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 |genus=Tanacetum
 |species=balsamita
 |common_name=Alecost, Costmary
 |Min ht box=36
 |Min ht metric=in
@@ Line 10: / Line 12: @@
 |lifespan=perennial
 |exposure=sun
 |flower_season=early summer, mid summer, late summer, early fall, mid fall, late fall
 |flowers=white
@@ Line 15: / Line 18: @@
 |min_zone=6
 |max_zone=10
-|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=Tanacetum balsamita cv.majus Kh.208 Habitus.jpg
-|image=Upload.png
+|image_width=200
 }}
-{{Taxobox
+'''Tanacetum balsamita''' is a perennial temperate herb known as '''Costmary''', '''Alecost''' or '''Balsam herb'''.
-| color = lightgreen
-| name = Costmary
+It has been grown for many centuries for its pleasant, slightly medicinal or [[balsam|balsamic]]  smell. It was used in medieval times as a place marker in [[Bible|bibles]]. It is referred to by Culpeper and others as the 'Balsam Herb'. [http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/costm107.html]
-| image = Balsamita major.jpg
+Leaves of the plant have been found to contain a range of [[essential oil|essential oils]].
-| image_width = 240px
-| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
+==Cultivation==
-| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
-| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
-| ordo = [[Asterales]]
+===Propagation===
-'''Tanacetum balsamita''' is a perennial temperate herb known as '''Costmary''', '''Alecost''' or '''Balsam herb'''.
+===Pests and diseases===
-The plant is known from ancient [[Herbal|herbals]] and was widely grown in Elizabethan [[knot garden|knot gardens]].
+==Varieties==
-==See also==
+==Gallery==
-*[[Pyrethrum]]
+<gallery perrow=5>
 ==References==
-# Culpepers British Herbal - Pub. William Nicholson and Son - C. 1905 (re-print of the 1653 original)
+==External links==
-[[Category:Asteraceae]]
+{{stub}}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{SPlantbox
 |familia=Asteraceae
 |genus=Tanacetum
 |species=balsamita
-|common_name=Alecost,�Costmary
+|common_name=Alecost, Costmary
 |Min ht box=36
 |Min ht metric=in

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:41, 15 April 2010
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	{{SPlantbox
		+	\|familia=Asteraceae
		+	\|genus=Tanacetum
		+	\|species=balsamita
		+	\|common_name=Alecost,�Costmary
		+	\|Min ht box=36
		+	\|Min ht metric=in
		+	\|Min wd box=18
		+	\|Min wd metric=in
		+	\|lifespan=perennial
		+	\|exposure=sun
		+	\|flower_season=early summer, mid summer, late summer, early fall, mid fall, late fall
		+	\|flowers=white
		+	\|Temp Metric=°F
		+	\|min_zone=6
		+	\|max_zone=10
		+	\|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
		+	}}
	{{Taxobox		{{Taxobox
	\| color = lightgreen		\| color = lightgreen