Datisca cannabina - Acalbir

Family:	Datiscaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.8
Width:	1
Synonyms:
Range:	S. Europe (Crete), to W. Asia.

Datisca cannabina (Acalbir) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.8m and a width of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 8.
Acalbir will flower in March. the seeds ripen from April
The flowers from this plant are dioecious (each plant is either male or female, thus both genders need to be present to seed) and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

Acalbir 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
Acalbir prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Acalbir should not be planted in shady areas.

Banks of streams in rich alluvial soils[50, 200].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds
• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

Requires a good deep soil and a sunny position[1, 200]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[233]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. Give the roots protection from winter frosts by mulching them[200]. At one time this plant was commonly cultivated as a dye plant[46, 61], but with the advent of chemical dyes it has fallen into disuse. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The leaves and flowering stems are bitter, diuretic, febrifuge and purgative[145, 240]. The root is used as a sedative in the treatment of rheumatism[240]. It is also applied to carious teeth[240].

• Bitter - Increases the appetite and stimulates digestion by acting on the mucous membranes of the mouth. Also increases the flow of bile, stimulates repair of the gut wall lining and regulates the secretion of insulin and glucogen.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Febrifuge - Reduces fevers.
• Odontalgic - Treats toothache (temporary measure only) and other problems of the teeth and gums.
• Purgative - A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.
• Sedative - Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse, only just covering the seed. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 weeks at 18°c[164]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in the spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves, root and stems[46, 61, 145].

• Dye - Plants that provide dyes.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora Europaea
?
Author: ?
Rating:
Publisher : 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.
Date of Publication : 1964

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

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