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Dorema ammoniacum - D.Don.

Common Name Ammoniacum
Family Apiaceae or Umbelliferae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Loess loams in desert areas[74]. Dry rocky areas[238].
Range W. Asia - Iran to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Dorema ammoniacum Ammoniacum


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Dorema ammoniacum Ammoniacum

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Dorema ammoniacum 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

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

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.
Antispasmodic  Carminative  Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Expectorant  Poultice  Stimulant  Vasodilator


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

Porcelain  Resin

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

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

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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

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

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.

 

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Expert comment

Author

D.Don.

Botanical References

174

Links / References

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

Readers comment

mehdi nikeghball   Sun Oct 31 13:40:38 2004

i want information a boaut dorema aucheri

Ghanimat Azhdari   Tue Dec 5 2006

hello.please tell me more about Dorema. can you help me?

Ken Fern, Plants for a Future.   Tue Dec 5 2006

More information on the medicinal uses of this plant can be found at http://www.henriettesherbal.com/php/get.php?id=4109. An analysis of the gum resin can be found at http://www.zardband.com/article_e.asp?type=23&id=23. A description of how the gum resin is used in gilding can be found at http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Library/2036/gumammon.html.

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Subject : Dorema ammoniacum  
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