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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Dorema is a PERENNIAL growing to 2.5 m (8ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Diserneston gummiferum

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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Ammoniacum has been used in Western herbal medicine for thousands of years and is still seen as an effective remedy for various complaints of the chest[254]. A gum resin is found in cavities in the tissues of stems, roots and petioles[4]. It often exudes naturally from holes in the stems caused by beetles[238] though this is not so pure as that obtained from the plant tissues[4]. The resin is antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, mildly diuretic, expectorant, poultice, stimulant and vasodilator[4, 46, 64, 165, 238]. It is often used internally in the treatment of chronic bronchitis (especially in the elderly), asthma and catarrh[4, 238]. Externally, it is used as a plaster for swellings of the joints and indolent tumours[4, 238]. The resin exudes as a milky gum from holes made in the stems. This gum is pressed into blocks and then ground into a powder[254].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

A medicinal gum or resin called 'Ammoniacum' is exuded from insect damaged stems[46, 61, 64, 174]. It is also used in perfumery and in porcelain cement[238] as well as for plasters[46, 61, 64, 174].

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in an ordinary garden soil[1]. Prefers a well-drained to dry soil in a sunny position[238]. This species is not hardy in all parts of Britain, it tolerates temperatures down to at least -5°c[238]. A monocarpic species, growing for a number of years before it flowers but then dying after flowering[238]. It is said to produce viable seed in this country[238].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow in an outdoor seedbed in April[175]. It might be better to sow the seed in the autumn in a cold frame or greenhouse[K]. The seed germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 15°c[175]. If seed is in short supply we would recommend sowing it in a pot in a cold frame and pricking out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring of the following year.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Iran

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Dorema ammoniacum	Ammoniacum	Perennial	2.5	-		LMH	SN	DM	0	3	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Dorema - D.Don.