Fumaria officinalis

From PfafWiki

Author	L.
Family	Fumariaceae	Genus	Fumaria
Synonyms
Known hazards	None known
Range	Most of Europe, including Britain, to the Mediterranean and east to Iran.
Habitat	Arable land and as a weed in gardens, usually on lighter soils[9, 17]. It is also found growing on old walls[244].
Edibility rating	1	Medicinal rating	3

Contents 1 Physical Characteristics 2 Habitats 3 Edible Uses 4 Medicinal Uses 5 Other Uses 6 Cultivation details 7 Propagation 8 References

Physical Characteristics

Annual growing to 0.3m by 0.3m.
It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender.

Month

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

In flower

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Seed ripens

Y

Y

Y

Y

The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by bees, flies. The plant is self-fertile.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils
The plant prefers acid, neutral and alkaline (basic) soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade
It requires moist soil

Habitats

Cultivated Beds; East Wall In; South Wall In; West Wall In;

Edible Uses

Edible Uses

Curdling agent.

The fresh or dried herb can be added to sour plant milks. A few sprays are added to each litre of liquid and left until the liquid has soured thickly. The sprays are then removed. It gives a tangy taste to the milk, acts as a preservative and prevents the rancid taste that can accompany soured milk[183].

Medicinal Uses

Antispasmodic; Aperient; Cholagogue; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Laxative; Tonic

Fumitory has been highly valued since at least Roman times for its tonic and blood cleansing effect upon the body[244]. It is particularly valuable in the treatment of all visceral obstructions, particularly those of the liver, in scorbutic affections and in troublesome eruptive diseases of the skin, especially eczema (for which it can be taken internally and externally)[4, 9, 238]. The herb is antispasmodic, aperient, cholagogue, slightly diaphoretic, mildly diuretic, laxative and weakly tonic[4, 9, 21, 165, 240]. The plant is harvested as flowering begins in the summer and can be used fresh or can be dried for later use[9, 238]. Some caution should be exercised in the use of this herb since excess doses cause hypnotic and sedative effects, especially if it is taken for more than about 8 days[238, 244].

Other Uses

Baby care; Dye.

A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[4, 21]. A decoction makes a curative lotion for 'milk-crust' on the scalps of babies[4].

Cultivation details

Prefers a light well-drained soil in a sunny position[9, 17, 238]. This plant can be a common weed in some gardens, self-sowing freely, though it is fairly easy to control by hand weeding[K]. The flowers are seldom visited by insects, but they are self-fertile and usually set every seed[4].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. There is normally very little need to sow this seed, the plant normally self-sows freely and should manage quite nicely by itself.

References

[K] Ken Fern

Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

4 9 17 21 165 183 238 240 244