Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Culpeper (1649): “... helps such as are itchy and scabbed, clears the skin, opens stoppings of the liver and spleen, helps rickets, hypochondriac melancholy, madness, frenzies, quartan agues ...” etc. Notes: While it is still used in modern herbalism as a topical lotion or cream to treat skin diseases, it does contain poisonous alkaloids and should not be eaten (drunk, etc.). No evidence has appeared for its other uses as described by Culpeper.
Culpeper, Nicholas. (1650). A Physical Directory . London, Peter Cole.

Toxicity

Contains poisonous alkaloids.
Oakeley, Dr. H. F. (2013). The Gardens of the Pharmacopoeia Londinensis.

Geographical distribution

  • Africa, Macaronesia, Canary Is.
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Algeria
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Egypt
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Libya
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Morocco
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Tunisia
  • Asia-Temperate, Russian Far East
  • Asia-Temperate, Siberia
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Cyprus
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Iraq
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Israel
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Jordan
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Lebanon-Syria
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Belarus
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Central European Russia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Northwest European Russia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, South European Russia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Ukraine
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Austria
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Belgium
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Germany
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Hungary
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Netherlands
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Poland
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Slovakia
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Switzerland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Denmark
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Ireland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Norway
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Sweden
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Czech Republic
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Fumaria officinalis L.

Family: PAPAVERACEAE
Genus: Fumaria
Species: officinalis L.
Common names: Common Fumitory; Wax Dolls
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Fumaria, Fumiterra
Distribution summary: Africa, Europe, temperate Asia
Habit: Annual
Hardiness: H4 - Hardy; average winter
Habitat: Roadsides, wasteland & cultivated land
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Pharmacopoeia Londinensis 1618 'Flowers' (HSE 1), Europe & Mediterranean (E), Arid zones (Q), seed waiting to be sown or germinating in greenhouse or frame (seed)
Flowering months: May, June, July, August, September
Reason for growing: Medicinal, traditional herbal registration


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