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Teucrium scordium - L.

Common Name Water Germander
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Banks of rivers and ditches on calcareous soils and on dune slacks[17]. A rare plant in Britain[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Sweden south and east to France, W. Siberia and Serbia.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Teucrium scordium Water Germander


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Kenraiz
Teucrium scordium Water Germander

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Teucrium scordium is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very 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

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.
Anthelmintic  Antidiarrhoeal  Antifungal  Antiseptic  Diaphoretic  Skin  TB  Tonic


The herb is anthelmintic, antifungal, antiseptic, diaphoretic, skin, tonic[4, 61]. Water germander was at one time esteemed as an antidote for poisons and also as an antiseptic and anthelmintic, though it is scarcely used nowadays. However, its tonic and diaphoretic actions make it an excellent remedy for all inflammatory diseases[4]. It us also used in the treatment of TB[61].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye

A green dye is obtained from the leaves[61].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any moderately good soil. See notes on the plants habitat for more ideas on its needs. Water germander was at one time cultivated in gardens as a medicinal herb, though it has fallen into disuse[4]. The crushed plant has a penetrating odour that is somewhat like garlic. It is said to taint the milk if eaten by cows[4].

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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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 spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed[113]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if they are large enough. Otherwise, grow them on in a cold frame for the winter and plant them out in the following spring. Division in early spring[1]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[113].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Kazakhstan, China (Gansu Sheng, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu) TROPICAL ASIA: Pakistan EUROPE: Denmark, United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Romania, Spain, France, Portugal AFRICA: Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia

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
Teucrium canadenseAmerican Germander, Canada germander, Western germanderPerennial1.0 4-8  LMHSNM010
Teucrium chamaedrysWall Germander, GermanderShrub0.3 5-9 SLMHSNDM123
Teucrium marumCat ThymeShrub0.3 8-11  LMHNDM02 
Teucrium massiliense Shrub1.0 5-9  LMHNDM10 
Teucrium polium Shrub0.2 6-9  LMHNDM11 
Teucrium scorodoniaWood SagePerennial0.3 5-9  LMHSNDM12 

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

17

Links / References

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