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Thapsia garganica

Common name:	Drias Plant	Family:	Umbelliferae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	1, 50
Synonyms:	Thapsia decussata
Known Hazards:	The resin in the sap can cause skin irritation[4].
Range:	Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat:	Rocky places, fields and sunny slopes[45].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	T. silphion[H]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Faux Turbith [E], Gargan Deathcarrot [E], Lasarpicium [E], Panacea D'Esculapio [E], Smooth Thapsia [E], Tapsia [E], Thapsia [H],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	garganica = of Monte Gargano, Italy;
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Apiales. Renamed to Apiaceae -- Carrot family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Britain; Europe; France; Italy; Mediterranean; Portugal; Spain

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 1.2m. It is hardy to zone 9. It is in flower from July to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 2/5 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. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds, In Walls, In South Wall, In West Wall.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Diuretic; Purgative.

The root is diuretic, emetic and purgative[1, 4, 46]. A resin is extracted with alcohol from the bark of the root[4]. The plant has been considered specific in treating pain, though caution is advised since it is poisonous to some mammals[4]. The plant is also strongly rubefacient, producing blisters and intense itching[4].

Other Uses

Resin.

Yields a resin that is used in plasters[46, 57, 61, 64]. No further details are given.

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species, it probably requires a well drained light fertile soil in a sunny position.
One report says that it is not hardy in Britain requiring greenhouse or half-hardy treatment[1]. We have grown it in the past in &ndndndnd, it survived 3 winters in a cold greenhouse with us before succumbing to slugs.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[K]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Root cuttings.

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

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

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

References

[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.

[45] Polunin. O. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford University Press 1980 ISBN 0-19-217626-9
A good pocket flora, it also lists quite a few plant uses.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[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.

[57] Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Fairly readable but not very comprehensive. Deals with plants from around the world.

[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.

[64] Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber
A very good book dealing with the subject in a readable way.

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

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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.