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Scrophularia nodosa
| Common name: |
Knotted Figwort |
Family: |
Scrophulariaceae |
| Author: |
L. |
Botanical references: |
17, 200 |
| Synonyms: |
|
| Known Hazards: |
None known |
| Range: |
Europe, incl Britain, south and east from Norway to Spain and temperate Asia to the Yensei region. |
| Habitat: |
Damp ground in woods, hedgebanks, by streams etc[9]. An occasional garden weed[1]. |
| Edibility Rating (1-5): |
1 | Medicinal Rating (1-5): | 3 |
| Other Common Names: | From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Braunwurz [E], Carpenter's Square [H], Common Figwort [L], Escrofularia [E], Figwort [E], Kernelwort [H], Knopig Helmkruid [D], Knotted Figwort [H], L'Herbe Chancreuse [E], Reuwe Di Tchin [E], Rose Noble [H], Rosenoble [E], Siraca Otu [E], Throatwort [H,E], Woodland Figwort [P,B], Woods Figwort [H], |
| Epithets: | From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets |
|
nodosa = conspicuous nodes;
|
| Systematics: | From a USDA Plants Database |
|
Order: Scrophulariales. Figwort family
|
| Other Range Info: |
From the Ethnobotany Database |
|
Belgium; Europe; France; Germany; Spain; Turkey
|
Physical Characteristics
Perennial growing to 1m by 0.3m . It is hardy to zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees and wasps.
We rate it 1/5 for edibility and
3/5 for medicinal use.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
It requires moist soil.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge.Edible Uses
Root.
Root - cooked[4]. It smells and tastes unpleasant, but has been used in
times of famine[4, 238]. There must be some doubts about the edibility of
this root[K].
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Alterative; Anodyne; Anthelmintic; Antiinflammatory; Diuretic; Purgative; Stimulant.
Knotted figwort is a plant that supports detoxification of the body and
it may be used as a treatment for various kinds of skin disorders[254].
The whole plant is alterative, anodyne, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, mildly
purgative and stimulant[4, 9, 21, 165]. It is harvested as the plant comes
into flower in the summer and can be dried for later use[4]. A decoction is
applied externally to sprains, swellings, burns, inflammations etc, and is
said to be useful in treating chronic skin diseases, scrofulous sores and
gangrene[4, 254]. The leaves can also be applied fresh or be made into an
ointment[4]. Internally, the plant is used in the treatment of chronic skin
diseases (such as eczema, psoriasis and pruritis), mastitis, swollen lymph
nodes and poor circulation[238]. It should not be prescribed for patients
with heart conditions[238].
The root is anthelmintic[9].
Other Uses
None known
Cultivation details
Succeeds in most moist to wet soils in full sun or partial shade[238].
Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[238].
Propagation
Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[238]. 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 then it can be sown outdoors in situ in the
autumn or the spring.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their
permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions
and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them
out once they are well established in the summer.
Suppliers
Plants For A Future is working with the following groups to try and make these plants easily available. Parts of the proceeds will be donated to so please mention us when ordering.
- Wildwood Nurseries
-
Lower Manor Cottage
Thornbury
Holsworthy
Devon
EX22 7DD
Email: lorna@macace.co.uk
Phone 01409 261324
Fax 01409 261324
Distribution: UK
How to order: Direct from Wildwood by email/phone
Last Updated: March 03
Item:
Scrophularia nodosa
(figwort*)
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.
- [B] Data
(Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
- [P] Data.
(uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
- [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
References for scrophularia nodosa (a possible synonym).
References for the family Scrophulariaceae.
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.
Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.
[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
[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.
[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
[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.
[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
[165] Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
An excellent small 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.
[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
[254] Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
Readers Comments
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Plant information taken from the
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Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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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?Scrophularia+nodosa
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Scrophularia+nodosa
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