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Echinops latifolius - Tausch.

Author	Tausch.	Botanical references	200, 266
Family	Compositae	Genus	Echinops
Synonyms
Known Hazards	None known
Range	E. Asia - China, Siberia, Mongolia.
Habitat	Grassland and open forests at elevations of 100 - 2200 metres[266].
Edibility Rating	0 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	1 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.5m.

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

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Antiinflammatory; Galactogogue.

The root is anti-inflammatory and galactogogue[176]. It is used in the treatment of breast abscesses with inflammation, mastitis, lack of milk in nursing mothers and distension of the breast[176].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Succeeds in a sunny position in any well drained soil of low or medium fertility[200]. Established plants are drought tolerant[190]. The flowers are often used for dried flower displays[200]. If all the flowers are removed early in the season, the plant will often produce a second flush of bloom later in the summer[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame[111]. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 9 weeks at 25°c[175]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. The seed can also be sown in an outdoor seedbed in mid spring and is then planted out into its permanent position in late summer or the autumn[111]. Division in autumn[111]. Root cuttings in the winter[200].

Links

Permaculture.info Details of this plant in the Permaculture.info project, a community plant and permaculture database.

References

[111] Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926
A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.

[175] Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Corydalis spp.

[176] Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985
An excellent Chinese herbal giving information on over 500 species. Rather technical and probably best suited to the more accomplished user of herbs.

[190] Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982 ISBN 0460045512
A good list of drought resistant plants with details on how to grow them.

[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.

[266] Flora of China 1994
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

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