Atractylis gummifera
L.
Masticogna laticifera
(c) hmsisse, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) hmsisse, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) mathias_s, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Flowers
Edible Parts: Edible Uses: Gum Gum A gum obtained from the plant is used for chewing.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in dry habitats. It can grow in arid places.
Africa, Algeria, Europe, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean, Morocco, North Africa, Sicily, Spain, Tunisia,
How to Identify
A low thistle like plant. It is stout but stem-less. The plant is hairy in parts. The leaves are oblong and divided into leaflets along the stalk. There are spines at the tip. The stalks sheath at the base. The flower-heads are purple or pink. They are 30-70 mm along. They occur singly. The middle flower bracts have 3 spines at the tip.
How to Grow
We have very little information on the cultivation needs of this species, but it succeeds outdoors at Bristol Botanical Gardens, where it flowers and sets viable seed. It is likely to prefer a well-drained soil and a sunny position. It strongly dislikes winter wet. A monocarpic plant, living for a number of years without flowering, but then dying after it does flower.
Propagation: Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse or cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame until they are planted out in early summer. Alternatively, the seed can be sown in situ in mid to late spring.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Other Uses
Gum Gum A gum obtained from the plant is used as an adulteration for mastic. Mastic (obtained from Pistacia lentiscus) is used in high grade varnishes, as a fixative in perfumes, tooth pastes, glue (especially for false beards), embalming, a temporary filling for teeth etc. It is used to seal the edges of microscope mounts and is also chewed to preserve the teeth and gums. Special Uses
Wikipedia
Source ↗A herbaceous perennial growing 60cm tall, hardy to UK zone 6. Accepts light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils. Grows in semi-shade (light woodland) or full sun. Prefers moist soil. Hermaphrodite flowers with suitable pH from mildly acidic to basic soils.
Names & Synonyms
Card santo
References (7)
- Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 448
- Lentini, F. and Venza, F., 2007, Wild food plants of popular use in Sicily. J Ethnobiol Ethnomedicine. 3: 15
- Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 184
- Rivera, D. et al, 2006, Gathered Mediterranean Food Plants - Ethnobotanical Investigations and Historical Development, in Heinrich M, Müller WE, Galli C (eds): Local Mediterranean Food Plants and Nutraceuticals. Forum Nutr. Basel, Karger, 2006, vol 59, pp 18–74
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 10th April 2011]
- Sp. pl. 2:829. 1753
- Tardio, J., et al, Ethnobotanical review of wild edible plants in Spain. Botanical J. Linnean Soc. 152 (2006), 27-71
