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Atractylis gummifera - L.

Common Name
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Field verges and roadsides[89].
Range Mediterranean.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Atractylis gummifera


http://flickr.com/photos/58213213@N00
Atractylis gummifera
http://flickr.com/photos/58213213@N00

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Atractylis gummifera is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
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 moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Gum  Gum

A gum obtained from the plant is used for chewing[46, 61, 100].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Gum  Gum

A gum obtained from the plant is used as an adulteration for mastic[46, 61, 100]. Mastic (obtained from Pistacia lentiscus) is used in high grade varnishes, as a fixative in perfumes, tooth pastes, glue (especially for false beards), embalming, a temporary filling for teeth etc[7, 11, 46, 57, 64, 171, 200, 238]. It is used to seal the edges of microscope mounts and is also chewed to preserve the teeth and gums[64].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on the cultivation needs of this species, but it succeeds outdoors at Bristol Botanical Gardens, where it flowers and sets viable seed[K]. It is likely to prefer a well-drained soil and a sunny position[K]. It strongly dislikes winter wet[K]. A monocarpic plant, living for a number of years without flowering, but then dying after it does flower.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse or cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame until they are planted out in early summer. Alternatively, the seed can be sown in situ in mid to late spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Turkey (west) EUROPE: Greece (incl. Crete), Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Spain, Portugal AFRICA: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

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 it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

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.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

89

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Jose Perera   Wed Jan 7 2009

i am looking for a picture o a atractylis gummifera's root. i am a vet and have some deaths in pigs

Ruwen Böhm   Wed Aug 5 2009

This plant is toxic! The ingredient atractyloside impairs mitochondria function.

Avner Diniz   Sat Aug 8 2009

I just remember that these species is higly toxic, many casualities allready occur, so the best is advise people to simply dont use it instead to say that gum is ``edible`` Avner Diniz

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