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Saussurea costus - (Falc.)Lipsch.

Common Name Costus
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats A casual in irrigated areas, 2000 - 3300 metres from Pakistan to Himachel Pradesh[51]. Usually found in moist shady situations in Kashmir, sometimes forming the undergrowth in birch forests[211].
Range E. Asia - Himalayas.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Saussurea costus Costus


Saussurea costus Costus

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Saussurea costus is a PERENNIAL growing to 3 m (9ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
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

S. lappa. (Decne.)Schultz-Bip.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Condiment

The aromatic root is sometimes used as a spice[183]. It has a characteristic penetrating odour reminiscent of violet, orris and vetiver[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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Anodyne  Antibacterial  Antispasmodic  Aphrodisiac  Carminative  Emmenagogue  Skin  Stimulant  
Tonic  Vermifuge

Costus is a commonly used medicinal herb in China and is considered to be one of their 50 fundamental herbs[218]. It is also used in Ayurvedic medicine where it is valued mainly for its tonic, stimulant and antiseptic properties[254]. It is said to be aphrodisiac and to be able to prevent the hair turning grey[254]. The root is anodyne, antibacterial, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, skin, stimulant, stomachic, tonic and vermifuge[61, 147, 176, 218]. It is used internally in the treatment of abdominal distension and pain, chest pains due to liver problems and jaundice, gall bladder pain, constipation associated with energy stagnation, and asthma[238]. The root is harvested in the autumn or spring and either dried for later use or decocted for the essential oil[238]. It is normally used with other herbs[218]. The root is also used in Tibetan medicine where it is considered to have an acrid, sweet and bitter taste with a neutral potency[241]. It is used in the treatment of swelling and fullness of the stomach, blockage and irregular menses, pulmonary disorders, difficulty in swallowing and rotting/wasting of muscle tissues[241]. An oil from the root is very beneficial in the treatment of rheumatism[211].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Essential  Hair  Incense

An essential oil obtained from the roots is used medicinally, in perfumery, incenses and as a hair rinse when it is said to darken grey hair[61]. It has a strong lingering scent[238]. The smell is at first like violets, but as it ages it can become more fur-like or eventually become unpleasantly goat-like[245]. The roots are cut into lengths about 8cm long and then dried before being exported[211]. Smaller pieces of the root are ground into a powder and then used to make incense sticks[211]. The longer clean pieces are cut into very thin slices and then burnt at shrines or used as a tonic in hot baths[211].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most soils in a sunny well-drained position[1]. Cultivated as a medicinal plant and for its use in perfumery in the Himalayas[51, 245]. The dried root has something of the mossy smell of violets when fresh, becoming fur-like or even unpleasantly goat-like with age[245]. Most of the roots are exported to China and Japan and the plant forms quite a large article of commerce in Kashmir, the trade being controlled by the State[211]. Wild plants have been greatly over-collected and the plant has been placed on the CITES I list of endangered species - it is now illegal to dig them up for export[238].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame in the spring. Surface sow, or only just cover the seed, and make sure that the compost does not dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Division in spring might be possible.

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
Saussurea affinis Biennial0.6 -  LMHNM11 
Saussurea diamantica Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Saussurea gracilis Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Saussurea graminifolia Perennial0.2 -  LMHSNM02 
Saussurea grandifolia Perennial0.0 -  LMHNM10 
Saussurea lyrata Perennial0.0 -  LMHNM10 
Saussurea maximowiczii Perennial1.5 -  LMHSNM10 
Saussurea obvallata Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNM02 
Saussurea parviflora Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Saussurea pulchella Perennial1.5 3-7  LMHSNM10 
Saussurea roylei Perennial0.5 -  LMHSNM02 
Saussurea serrata amurensis Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Saussurea ussuriensis Perennial1.2 -  LMHSNM10 

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

(Falc.)Lipsch.

Botanical References

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Links / References

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Readers comment

Satish   Thu Jul 14 04:39:55 2005

Spasmodic in asthama and cough, rheumatism, brochuial asthama

l vijayanandakumar   Fri Feb 3 2006

is it called the insulin plant and for what reason

K Davidhizar   Sat Dec 26 2009

Horizon Herbs has seeds for this plant.

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Subject : Saussurea costus  
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