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Arnebia euchroma

Common name:		Family:	Boraginaceae
Author:	(Royle.)Johnst.	Botanical references:	51, 266
Synonyms:	Macrotomia euchroma (Royle.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - Himalayas from Afghanistan to C. Nepal.
Habitat:	Open slopes and rocks, only in the drier areas of the Himalayas, 3300 - 4500 metres[51].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	euchroma = good coloring
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Lamiales. Borage family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.3m. . It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds, Walls.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antibacterial Antipyretic Cancer Contraceptive Emollient Vulnerary.

The root is antipyretic, cancer, contraceptive, emollient and vulnerary[176]. It is used in the treatment of measles, mild constipation, burns, frostbite, eczema, dermatitis etc[176, 218]. Experimentally it has shown contraceptive action on rats, inhibiting oestrus, the fertility rate and the release of pituitary gonadotrophin hormone and chorion gonadotrophin hormone[176]. It inhibits the growth of cancer cells on the chorion membrane[176].
The root contains shikonin, an antitumour and bactericidal compound[218]. It inhibits the growth of E. coli, Bacillus typhi, B. dysenteriae, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus aureus[218]. Shikonin also promotes the healing of wounds on topical application[176].

Other Uses

Dye.

The root contains a copious purple dye[266].

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Requires a well-drained gritty soil and a sunny position in the rock garden or on a dry wall[1].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 8 weeks at 20° c[134]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. It is best to harvest the seed when it is slightly under-ripe, since it is quickly dispersed when ripe[200].
Cuttings with a heel in the autumn in sand in a cold frame[1].
Root cuttings in sand in a frame during the winter[1].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Macrotomia euchroma (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for the family Boraginaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[51] Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984
A very readable and good pocket guide (if you have a very large pocket!) to many of the wild plants in the Himalayas. Gives many examples of plant uses.

[134] Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.

[176] Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985
A very good Chinese herbal.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[266] Flora of China 1994
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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