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Camphorosma monspeliaca

Common name:		Family:	Chenopodiaceae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	11, 50
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Europe - Mediterranean to W. Asia.
Habitat:	Saline soils and dry waste places, north to latitude 53°north in eastern central Russia[50].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Caryophyllales. Goosefoot family

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen shrub growing to 0.6m. It is hardy to zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower in July. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline and saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antiasthmatic; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Emmenagogue; Expectorant; Stimulant.

Antiasthmatic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant[61].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Prefers a sandy soil[245]. It succeeds on sunny slopes in the warmer maritime areas of Britain[11. 166. 182], it is probably not hardy in other areas of the country.
The stems and leaves emit a powerful camphor-like scent[50, 182, 245].

Propagation

Seed - we have no details of this species but would suggest that it is best sown in late winter or early spring in a freely-draining compost in a greenhouse with the seed only just covered. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow on the plants for at least the first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring or early summer.

Scent

Plant: Crushed: The stems and leaves emit a powerful camphor-like scent.

Suppliers

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

Web References

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Chenopodiaceae.

[CHINA] Draft 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

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Camphorosma+monspeliaca
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Camphorosma+monspeliaca

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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.