Ajuga chamaepitys - Ground Pine

Family:	Labiatae
Habit:	Annual
Height:	0.15
Width:	0.15
Synonyms:
Range:	CentraL and souther Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa and E. Asia.

Ajuga chamaepitys (Ground Pine) is a Annual which grows to a height of 0.15m and a width of 0.15m . It has a hardness rating of 6.
Ground Pine will flower in November to March. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees

Soil Information

Ground Pine will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Ground Pine prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Ground Pine can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Very local in sandy and chalky arable fields and in open habitats in chalky grassland[4, 17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds
• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

Thrives in a poor dry soil in full sun[238]. Prefers a humus-rich moisture-retentive soil[200]. Plants are usually annual, but are sometimes short-lived perennials[200]. The whole plant smells of pine trees when crushed[17, 238].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The leaves are diuretic, stimulant and emmenagogue[4]. The plant acts mainly on the urinary system and uterus[238]. It once had a high reputation in the treatment of rheumatism, dropsy, jaundice etc and has also proved of worth when used in conjunction with other herbs in the treatment of women's complaints[4]. The leaves are harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use[238].

• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Emmenagogue - Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
• Stimulant - Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.
• Women's complaints - A very vague title, it deals with a miscellany of problems peculiar to the female sex.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. Germination can be erratic[238].

Scented parts of the plants

Leaves : Crushed

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

DISCLAIMER: All information published on AussieGardening.com.au is for entertainment purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information contained here with other sources. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by doctors or dietary advice by dieticians. AussieGardening.com.au will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages arising therefrom.