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Inula conyza

Common name:	Ploughman's Spikenard	Family:	Compositae
Author:	DC.	Botanical references:	17
Synonyms:	Inula vulgaris (Trevis.), Inula squarrosa (non L.), Conyza squarrosa (L.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Central and southeastern Europe, including Britain, from Denmark to N. Africa and the Near East.
Habitat:	Dry or rocky slopes and cliffs, also in open scrub on calcareous soils[17].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	Aster conyzae[G] I. conyzae[DUTCH,G]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Coniza [E], Donderkruid [D], Pire Otu [E], Ploughman's Spikenard [H],
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Asterales. Renamed to Asteraceae -- Aster family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Spain; Turkey

Physical Characteristics

Biennial/Perennial growing to 1.2m by 0.4m . It is hardy to zone 6. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees and flies. The plant is self-fertile. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

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

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge, In Walls, In East Wall, In West Wall.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antiscrophulatic; Emmenagogue; Vulnerary.

The herb is antiscrofulatic, emmenagogue and vulnerary[4]. The plant was considered to be a good wound herb and it was frequently taken in decoction for bruises, ruptures, internal wounds etc[4]. It was applied externally to treat itchy skin[4].

Other Uses

Incense; Insecticide; Parasiticide.

The leaves are burnt and used as an insecticide and parasiticide, especially against fleas[4, 100]. Even the smell of the plant is said to drive fleas away[4].
The root used to be burnt upon a fire in order to scent a room[245].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil in a sunny position[1].
The basal leaves of this species are often mistaken for the foxglove, Digitalis purpurea[17].
The basal leaves form a rosette that covers the ground for 30cm or more, destroying the grass underneath[245].
All parts of the plant are refreshingly aromatic[245].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
If you have sufficient seed, it is worthwhile trying a sowing in situ in the spring or the autumn.

Scent

Plant: Fresh Crushed Dried: All parts of the plant are refreshingly aromatic.

Suppliers

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

Web References

Details of Medicinal Uses, Habitats, etc. in M. Grieve A Modern Herbal (1931) [4]
[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[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 Conyza squarrosa (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for Inula conyzae (a possible synonym).

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.

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]).

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[100] Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969 ISBN 0192176218
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.

[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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Bibliography

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?Inula+conyza
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Inula+conyza

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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.