Difference between revisions of "Elecampane"

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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen
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{{SPlantbox
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| name = Elecampane
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|familia=Asteraceae
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| image = Koeh-210.jpg
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|genus=Inula
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| image_width = 250px
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|species=helenium
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| regnum = [[Plantae]]
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|taxo_author=L.
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| phylum = [[Magnoliophyta]]
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|common_name=Elecampane
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
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|Temp Metric=°F
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| ordo = [[Asterales]]
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|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!
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| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
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|image=Inule helenium.jpg
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| tribus = [[Inuleae]]
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|image_width=240
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| genus = ''[[Inula]]''
 
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| species = '''''I. helenium'''''
 
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| binomial = ''Inula helenium''
 
 
}}
 
}}
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'''Elecampane''', also called '''Horse-heal''' (''Inula helenium'') or '''Marchalan''' (in [[Welsh language|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]].
  
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'''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]].  
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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]].  
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{{Inc|
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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.
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}}
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==Cultivation==
  
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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]].
 
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[[Image:Inule helenium.jpg|thumb|left|230px]]
 
  
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For [[medicinal]] purposes it should be procured from plants not more than two or three years old. Besides [[inulin]], C<sub>12</sub>H<sub>20</sub>O<sub>10</sub>, a body [[isomeric]] with [[starch]], the [[root]] contains [[helenin]], C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>8</sub>O, 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.
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===Propagation===
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===Pests and diseases===
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==Varieties==
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In [[France]] and [[Switzerland]] it is used in the manufacture of [[absinthe]].
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==Gallery==
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==Folklore==
 
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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>
 
  
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==Herbalism==
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<gallery perrow=5>
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[[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>
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File:Koeh-210.jpg|
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Image:Upload.png| photo 1
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Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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</gallery>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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{{Commons|Inula helenium}}
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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{{1911}}
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
  
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[[Category:Asteraceae]]
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{{stub}}
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[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
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__NOTOC__
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[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
 
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[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
 

Latest revision as of 20:46, 18 March 2010


Inule helenium.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Asteraceae >

Inula >

helenium >

L. >


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!


Elecampane, also called Horse-heal (Inula helenium) or Marchalan (in Welsh), is a 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 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 flowers 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.


Read about Elecampane in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

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.


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

Propagation

Pests and diseases

Varieties

Gallery

  • Koeh-210.jpg

  • photo 1

  • photo 2

  • photo 3

References

External links


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